General Admission to the University

Persons who respond to the challenge of a creative, dedicated life and who are ready to assume significant responsibility in the shaping of their academic careers are prepared to begin study at Virginia University of Lynchburg. The University seeks to enroll students who will benefit from academic and character training and who are willing to contribute to the development of a democratic society without regard to race, creed, color or national origin. The student must be willing and able to assume responsibility for personal conduct and have a sense of concern for others.

Admission may be granted to individuals who have a high school diploma or the equivalent (GED), and may benefit from any of the programs of study offered by the University. Admission to the University may be denied if the admissions committee feels that matriculation would not be in the best interest of the student and/or the University.

1. Students at Virginia University of Lynchburg are encouraged to develop themselves to their fullest potential. In keeping with the philosophy of the University, the Admissions Committee gives due regards to the following:
   
   
   • Character and personality traits
   • The physical and emotional health of the student
   • Academic performance in high school or other colleges
     
     
2. All applicants for admission are required to:
   
   
   • File the appropriate admission application
   • Submit the non-refundable application fee
   • Have official high school and/or college transcripts forwarded to the Admissions Office
   • Schedule a conference with the Registrar or Dean to outline a program of study

Foreign students must submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) to be classified as a foreign student. The Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey, offers this test and it is administered in several locations in Virginia during the year. Admission to the University cannot be considered until satisfactory results of the test are forwarded to the Admissions Office.

Students Transferring from Other Colleges

Usually, a student transferring from another college who are eligible for re-entrance to that college shall also be eligible for admission to Virginia University of Lynchburg. It is the role of the University to help each student succeed in a program from which he can benefit. If a transfer student is ineligible to return to a particular curriculum in a previous college, generally he will not be allowed to enroll in the same curriculum in the college until two semesters elapse or until he/she completes an approved developmental program at the college. The Admissions Committee of the University shall decide on each case and usually shall impose special conditions for the admissions of such students, including placement on probation.

Students transferring from another college should consult with the Director of Admissions for an assessment of credits in order to determine his/her standing before registering for classes. Generally no credit will be given for courses with grades lower than "C." A transfer student may be advised to repeat courses if it is clearly to his/her advantage to do so in order to make satisfactory progress in his/her chosen curriculum.

Students Transferring to Other Colleges

Students planning to transfer to a four-year college or university are responsible for determining the transfer admission policies and requirements of the department or program at the intended institution. The four-year institution policies and requirements should guide a student in choosing a course of study and appropriate electives at Virginia University of Lynchburg. Deans will provide assistance to students in designing an appropriate program of study. Virginia University of Lynchburg offers the Associate in Liberal Arts and Sciences. This transfer program is designed so that students can parallel VUL course work with four-year college requirements. Because of the changing academic requirements of the many Virginia schools, students are encouraged to have direct contact with the institution to which they plan to transfer.

Readmission

Any student whose enrollment at the University has been interrupted for more than one semester must apply for readmission. The student must submit a statement of intent, which includes (1) an explanation of the reason for leaving the University and (2) reason(s) for desiring to return.

Orientation Program

An orientation program has been established to acquaint new freshmen students to the purpose and programs at the University. All entering freshmen are required to sign up for the orientation program. The orientation program is required for graduation in the bachelor and certificate programs.

ACADEMIC REGULATIONS

Classification of Students

All students are classified according to the following categories:

Freshmen - A student who has been admitted to the University and has not yet earned 30 semester hours of college work.
Sophomore - A student who has earned at least 30 semester hours but not more than 55 semester hours.
Junior - A student who has earned at least 56 semester hours but not more than 90 semester hours.
Senior - A student who has earned at least 91 semester hours

Student Status

Full-Time Student - A student is considered full-time if he/she is carrying 12 credit hours or more of course work in a semester.
Part-Time Student - A student is considered a part-time student if he/she is carrying less than 12 hours of work.

Students with Disabilities

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Virginia University of Lynchburg will assist students in obtaining reasonable accommodations at the University. Students with specific question or concerns should contact the Office of the Dean.

Mission of Virginia University of Lynchburg’s School of Religion

Virginia University of Lynchburg seeks to provide self-actualization opportunities for all qualified applicants who are willing to stretch their mental and practical capabilities. This historical African American institution was founded in 1886 to meet the growing demands of our churches for better-educated and -trained ministers, missionaries, and teachers.

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS FOR MASTER OF DIVINITY PROGRAM

Standard Admissions
Any person who has received a bachelor degree or its equivalent may be admitted into the Master of Divinity Program after having met the following:

1. A written statement certifying their relationship to the church.
2. A written statement of endorsement from the Pastor or other responsible supervising personnel.
3. A concise written statement indicating the reason why the student chose ministry as a vocation/life work.
4. Application form must be submitted to the Registrar along with the non-refundable fee of $25.00.
5. Upon review of the application by the Admission Committee, the student will be notified of the action taken.

Special Admissions
Only persons who have received a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, as determined by the faculty admissions committee, from an accredited college or university and who have cumulative average of C or higher are academically eligible for admissions as students in the Master of Divinity Program. In exceptional cases persons who have graduated from non-accredited colleges or university may be admitted on probation. This probation status is for a period of one year, and will be removed once the student has successfully demonstrated the ability to pursue graduate academic study. Other requirements for special admissions are based on the following:

1. The completion of the standard admissions application.
2. Three (3) letters of recommendations, indicating the capacity for ministry, character and intellectual ability for academic study.
3. An autobiographical statement highlighting life-long experiences, employment history, ministerial activities, call statement, future vocational focus, and the significance of preparation.
4. Documentation of one’s educational background, indicating all applicable courses, certificate programs, professional in-services activities.
5. Applicant must submit an assigned writing sample.
6. An interview and assessment with three faculty members (their unanimous endorsement is required for admissions).

International Students
International Students are required to maintain valid immigration status throughout their stay at Virginia University of Lynchburg in order to retain good standing with the School. In most cases, this requires that the student be enrolled full-time for three consecutive quarters out of every year. A person whose immigration status is not valid is not considered a current student, and cannot register for classes, participate in seminary activities, or apply for readmissions or admission to other degree programs.

Residence Requirements and Transfer Credi
A minimum of 72 quarters hours of graduate theological and biblical studies must be earned at Virginia University of Lynchburg School of Religion. Non-theological studies are normally not considered for transfer credit. Course work taken in a nonreligious setting which might be considered as parallel to course work in the VUL curriculum may be considered on an individual basis if it is appropriate to the field of concentration, approved by the School of Religion academic committee, and integrated through a 2 units (10 quarter hours) of Directed Study.

Absences and Withdrawal
In the event of absence, it is the student’s responsibility to make necessary arrangements with the instructor. Faculty members decide their own policies concerning class attendance.

Whenever possible, students are expected to report to their academic advisor any anticipated extended absences. Students who do not expect to register for a given quarter (except Summer) should consult with their academic advisor. If a student does not register for a period of two years (eight quarters), it will be necessary to apply for reinstatement. In such cases, students must meet the degree requirements in effect at the time they resume their course work.

Students who expect to discontinue their work at Virginia University of Lynchburg are expected to complete withdrawal forms, which require exit interviews from the office of the Deans.

Academic Standing
To remain in good academic standing students must have successfully completed 75% of the courses in which they enrolled for that academic year, and have a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 for all course work. Grades which represent successful completion are A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, CR (Credit), P (Pass), or SA (Satisfactory). Grades, which do not represent successful completion, are
I (Incomplete), F (Fail), NS (Not Satisfactory), and NC (No Credit).

Admission to the Doctor of Ministry Program

The Doctor of Ministry program is open to applicants, without discrimination, who have completed the Master of Divinity degree at an accredited seminary, provided that they have been engaged in professional church-related ministries for at least three years subsequent to receiving the M.Div. degree, and provided that they have demonstrated the ability to do academic work on the graduate level. The demonstration of such ability will be evidenced by a B average, and proven quality in communication skills and cognitive ability as ascertained in an interview and a review of written work.

• Introduction
  
  This Doctor of Ministry Program will provide challenging opportunities for students to engage in specialized training beyond their present level and to apply, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate classroom, research, and real world experiences. Each student will self-study his/her abilities, interests, experiences, spiritual gifts, skills, and talents and will identify an area of focus for the Doctor of Ministry project. While this project endeavors to challenge the student’s academic potential, the primary focus of the D.Min. program will be in the area of practical ministerial activities.
  
  The Doctor of Ministry degree is designed primarily for ministers who serve African Americans and other racial minorities. The Doctor of Ministry program is a non-resident degree program that is intended for ministry personnel who desire further academic and practical education but who simultaneously wish to remain in their service where God has placed them.
  
  The student will learn how to integrate cognitive skills in completing his/her identified project. The identified project must reflect the student’s goals, objectives, and strategies. The three-year D.Min. program will provide continuous opportunities for the student and faculty team to evaluate the on-going project in relation to the student’s goals, objectives, and strategies. The team will also review the project in light of its potential to offer research/historical and/or practical contributions to churches. Christian, education fields, and related social organizations and agencies.
  
  Program Goals
  
  The Doctor of Ministry Program is designed to provide a challenging and practical environment in which the student can learn, understand, apply, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate religious, educational and practical experiences. The student will:
  • Learn problem-solving skills.
  • Develop skills to apply knowledge gained through lectures, reading, guided research, and life-experiences to a practical project in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Ministry degree.
  • Select, conduct, and defend his/her project in light of its research and practical quality.
  • Program of Study

Program Advising

After matriculation, each student will request the formation of a Doctoral Committee. The committee must include two Faculty Members and the student’s Advisor. The student, with the input of the Advisor, will select the Doctoral Committee Members. The committee members should be selected because of their mutual interests in a particular field, background and communication styles, and/or expertise in the area of the student’s doctoral project or subject concentration. The student and Advisor, as well as committee members, will communicate with each other frequently via of telephone, postal mail, e-mail, and face-to-face contacts at colloquia.

All dissertation/project ideas, after they have been developed with the Doctoral Committee, including the Advisor, will be shared with the Staff Research Advisor. The proposed project/dissertation must have the initial and ongoing approval of the Staff Research Advisor. The final dissertation/project must have the approval of the Advisor, Committee Members, and Staff Research Advisor.

The Research

In addition to using Virginia University of Lynchburg’s library, the learner may utilize local and regional public, college, and seminary libraries, often free of charge by showing your VUL identification. Each student will receive a VUL ID card, with printed photograph, during the Orientation Session. This card will be valid for the three-year period, or as long as the student remains enrolled in the D.Min. Program.

Research and practical skill development are the foundations of VUL’s D.Min program. As the learner grows by conducting research and practicing his/her ministerial profession, the learner seeks more knowledge and then puts that knowledge into practice. Over time, during the three-year program, the student learns how to function on higher cognitive levels in practice, not just theory.

The Doctor of Ministry Admission Requirements state:

The Doctor of Ministry Program is open to applicants, without discrimination, who have completed the Master of Divinity degree at an accredited seminary, provided that they have been engaged in professional church-related ministries for at least three years subsequent to receiving the M.Div. degree, and provided that they have demonstrated the ability to do academic work on the graduate level.

The above requirements are at the very heart of VUL’s doctorate program. Learning should not occur in a vacuum. Students study to learn and learn so that they may apply that knowledge. As a student gains new knowledge and applies the information in real-world situations, he/she develops a thirst for more knowledge, at a higher cognitive level. VUL’s program emphasizes integration of subject/academic areas into a project. Students should not enroll in a course or conduct research just for the sake of learning isolated pieces of information. The successful VUL student will develop skills in integrating his/her learning into a practical project. A missionary project, for example, may include study in the fields of Church History, Missiology, Cultural Anthropology, Sociology, and Old Testament History. Research ability – the skill of a student researcher to take an idea or problem, investigate that idea through literature and observational research, and develop a project that answer the major questions posed by the researcher -- is the hallmark of VUL’s Doctor of Ministry Program.

The Dissertation/Project

The Dissertation/Project (DP) demonstrates a student’s skill in organizing preliminary ideas into a practical, cognitive, and thoroughly-research project. The DP signifies that the student has attained a level of expertise in his/her chosen field. It provides a high quality document that not only reflects on the academic program at Virginia University of Lynchburg, as well as gives to the religious community -- locally, regionally, and nationally – a practical research document. The DP will answer several questions:

• What was the quality level of the student’s growth from the first year to the third year?
• Was the quality of the project and document worthy of publication as partial fulfillment of the Virginia University of Lynchburg’s requirements for a Doctorate Degree?
• Does the document/project contribute to the informational, practical, and spiritual needs of the Christian society?
• Have the academic and practical skills been stirred sufficiently that the scholar/pastor can demonstrate his/her ability to develop life-long practical projects independently? Specifically, has Virginia University of Lynchburg stirred the eagle’s nest to the point that the eaglet can fly on his/her own as an eagle?

The ministry research project/dissertation is the culmination of the three-year program of study. Through the project/dissertation, the student has the opportunity to integrate professional knowledge and experience and document research work in the context of his/her current and future ministry.

Doctor of Ministry Process

Year One	Year One	Year Two	Year Two	Final Year
Phase I	Phase II	Phase III	Phase IV	Phase V
Analysis	Foundations	Design	Implementation	Documentation


The above process includes Peer Seminars and Independent Study

Phase I: Training in methods for self-analysis and analysis of the project. Through peer seminars, independent study, elective courses, and professional consultation, the student develops a problem statement in a specific ministry focus.

Phase II: This phase allows the student to deepen his/her understanding of biblical, historical, and theological concepts in relationship to the ministerial problem. The student will review literature relative to the problem so that he/she will understand how to set up the project.

Phase III: The student will develop skills for designing, assessing, and
evaluating a ministry project. This phase will require the student to work in a collaborative environment with the Advisor, Committee Members, and the Staff Research Advisor.

Phase IV: The implementation phase permits the researcher to apply his/her theoretical and experiential training in a real-world project.

Phase V: The Candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree must complete a document in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree.

 (The Virginia University of Lynchburg does not discriminate based on race, sex, color, religion, nationality, origin, age disability or veteran status in providing educational or employment opportunities or benefits.