(Microsoft Word - Graduate Students LTSP Email Accounts Reminder

							To: All Graduate Students

From: Graduate School Office
Re: Communication through your LTSP email account and the HENRY Database

Date: March 8, 2010

Dear Graduate Students,

As we journey through the season of Lent and continue to move forward in our Spring
Semester, we would like to make sure that you are up to date with the latest information,
deadlines and new procedures.

The Spring term always brings the academic year closer to its completion. For those
finishing their degrees Commencement is definitely a prominent event; but for those
moving forward in their programs of study, other aspects of academic life, such as
planning for graduate courses, registering documents, keeping up on student accounts,
and hopefully avoiding program fees due to inactivity, are equally important aspects of
the culmination of an academic year. As we continue to expand the use and capabilities
of our new database system and website, it is important that all graduate students are
familiar with the procedures currently in place.

Communications regarding the changes we have already implemented go back to 2007,
when we mailed two pieces of correspondence to student addresses regarding the need
for all of our students to make use of their Ltsp.edu email accounts. Throughout 2008
we continued to utilize both Ltsp and non-Ltsp email accounts. As of 2009, however,
your Ltsp.edu email account is now your only key to the student database access and
also the primary way of communication from the Seminary.

   •   Our Graduate Students email communications are sent only to Ltsp.edu email
       accounts.
   •   The Henry portal, the Ltsp database, currently displays student accounts and
       grades, and soon registration procedures, recognizes and accepts only Ltsp
       email accounts as credentials for allowing access.
   •   All announcements regarding opening of registrations for every term are
       communicated electronically. In order to avoid late fees or program related fees,
       this information is vital to you.
   •   Most importantly, our new database drops from the roll students who have not
       been active through an entire academic year. In order to avoid that, the Registrar
       has set up an Active Student Status registration code. This is free of charge and
       allows you to “register” for active student status when not taking a course in a
       particular term. This would not avoid the continuation or extension fee at the end
       of the year if no courses were taken during the entire year, but will avoid being
       dropped from the roll. We have made students aware of this since 2009 (see
       attached).

Your Ltsp.edu email account does not need to replace your primary email account.
Please contact the helpdesk at helpdesk@ltsp.edu and ask for instructions on how to
have your Ltsp emails sent or re-routed to your primary email account. You may also
contact the helpdesk if you have forgotten your email, or password.

As we make better use of our technology and resources, we want to make sure you are
also making the most of this opportunity. Although we would gladly mail something
through the post, please know that this would now be an exception to the rule.
                                7301 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119
                                            Office of the Registrar
                                                    Telephone: 215-248-6305
                                                    FAX: 215-248-7315
                                                  E-mail: registrar@ltsp.edu
                                                          June 2009

  GRADUATE SCHOOL (STM, DMIN, PHD, GENERAL STUDIES)

               Important!! Procedures changes for 2009-10

                 REGISTRATION OF ACTIVE STATUS –
      You MUST register every semester to avoid removal from the roll!
The seminary is currently in the process of implementing a database that will, in the near future,
permit on-line registration by students. One drawback of the database, however, is that it will
count as active only those students who actually register each term. This is unlike our current
system, which counts as active all students who have not either withdrawn or been removed from
the roll.

Consequently, in preparation for on-line registration, we have instituted a new policy requiring that
all students wishing to remain active on the roll of the seminary take the active step of registering
every Fall and Spring semester. You may register for:
     1.               At least one course for credit that is being offered that term by LTSP
         (includes DMin Colloquium 1 or 2, even though they carry no credit, and independent
         studies). Note that the Spring Semester includes January Term for database purposes,
         so a J-Term course counts as a Spring Semester registration.
     2.               DMin Project (SDMPROJ), STM Thesis (STMTHES) or STM Oral Exam
         (STMEXAM). Use the appropriate form, found in your DMin or STM manual, after you
         have received the approval of your advisor to register. Applicable fees as shown on the
         fee schedule will be assessed to your student account.
     3.               Submission of a DMin dossier item, using course numbers as follows:
              •       SDM731G Exegetical Study
              •       SDM732G Theological Study
              •       SDM733G Case Study
              •       SDM734G Communications Exhibit
              •       SDM735G On-Site Visit
         Use the regular course registration form to indicate your intent to submit the required
         documentation prior to the end of the semester or term. You do not need to submit the
         documentation with your registration (though you may do so, if you wish).
     4.               SGN999G Registration of Active Status – indicates that, while you are not
         enrolled in any courses, you wish to remain on the roll of your degree program. If you
         have registered a thesis or project in a prior term, you still need to register your active
         status in each subsequent semester. If you are taking courses elsewhere for transfer into
         your program, you still need to register your Active Status at LTSP. This is the only
         registration that may be handled via email until on-line registration is available; i.e.,
         you do not need to submit a registration form to register for SGN999G.

Option #1 above must be completed prior to the on-time registration deadline for the semester to
avoid the late registration fee. However, Options 2–4 may be completed anytime prior to the
semester drop/add deadline. This means that, in general, if you prepare any of the items in
Nos. 2 and 3 after the drop/add deadline for a term, you are advised to hold the registration until
the ensuing term. If you have not registered these items prior to the drop/add deadline of the
Spring Semester in a year when you plan to graduate, you will be allowed to register them only
with payment of a $50 late registration fee. Similarly, if you have not registered these items prior
to the drop/add deadline of the Summer Term in a year in which you have not otherwise been
active, you will need to pay a late registration fee (but can thereby avoid the annual $200
Continuation Fee; see below).
Consequences for failing to register: Failure to register for Fall or Spring Semester prior to the
drop/add deadline will result in your removal from the roll of the seminary, effective as of the
drop/add deadline. Should you decide within the same academic year that you wish to continue
in your degree program, you will need to notify the Registrar’s Office in writing of your intent to
resume studies, and you will be assessed a $100 reinstatement fee. Returning to the roll
following failure to register for an entire academic year (two semesters plus summer term, in any
order) will require your application through the Admissions Office. Upon readmission, you would
be subject to the Catalog in effect at the time of your readmission.

Effects on Program Continuation: Per your program manual and the registration procedures
and guidelines, program continuation is necessary to remain on the active roll in a given year if
you did not complete one of the following academic steps during the prior academic year (August
through June):
    1. Successful completion of at least one course for academic credit either at LTSP or
       elsewhere, applicable to your degree program. If you completed course work at another
       institution for transfer into an LTSP program, you should arrange for an official transcript
       to be sent directly from that institution to the LTSP Registrar upon receipt of a final grade.
    2. Filing of an STM Thesis Registration or Oral Examination Registration or DMin Project
       Registration.
    3. Registration and submission of at least one satisfactory DMin dossier element. [This
       option is new.]
Note that Registration of Active Status (SGN999G) alone will not enable you to avoid the annual
program continuation fee; your activity must be demonstrated through completed courses taken
for credit; registration of a project, thesis, or oral exam; or submission of a DMin dossier item.


(GOOD NEWS FOR DMINS!):
Because of the new registration requirement, note that DMin dossier elements have now been
added to the list of registration actions that will demonstrate the student’s activity for purposes of
avoiding this annual program continuation fee.


If you have questions about the above and how it applies to you, please contact the registrar per
above or the Graduate Studies Office:
    Dr. David Grafton                                       Sara Calderón
    Director of Graduate Studies                            Graduate Studies Administrative Assistant
    215-248-6347                                            215-248-7384
    dgrafton@ltsp.edu                                       scalderon@ltsp.edu