Records and Forms

Transcripts

To request a transcript, please fill and submit this Winebrenner Transcript Request form.

FERPA

In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy of Act of 1974 (FERPA), as amended, Winebrenner Theological Seminary is restricted from releasing student information of any nature to third parties, with the exception of “directory” information which may be disclosed without the student’s knowledge. If a student wishes such directory information to be withheld from the student directory on Blackboard, denominational questionnaires, etc., it is their responsibility to notify Winebrenner in writing of their wish to opt out of inclusion in such directories.

Winebrenner does, on occasion, receive requests for additional student information (primarily financial accounts or academic progress), and students must complete the FERPA Form regarding access to such information by a third party. You may request a FERPA form from the Chief Academic Officer at mjohnson@winebrenner.edu.

Course Extensions

To request an extension, please review the information on Course Extensions in the Graduate Catalog and request an Extension Request Form from the Chief Academic Officer. (mjohnson@winebrenner.edu)

Directed Study/Directed Learning

Some regularly scheduled courses at the Seminary may be taken outside of the scheduled time frame when extremely unusual circumstances are present. A directed study is available only when the course cannot be taken at the regularly scheduled time because of an irreconcilable scheduling conflict affecting the normal degree progress of a student. A directed study generally is not allowed when due to a student’s mismanagement of their recommended course sequence or taking courses out of order. Students may be asked to consider a Tuition Exchange with another institution. Only students who have completed at least one term at the graduate level may be eligible for a directed study.

• Students requiring a directed study format for a regularly scheduled course must make the request to the Chief Academic Officer explaining the unusual and irreconcilable circumstances requiring the directed study delivery format.
• All directed studies are at the discretion of the CAO, advisor, the Executive Director, and possibly an instructor. The CAO assigns the instructor for the directed study course, and the student is notified of such action. In many cases, the CAO serves as the instructor of record.
• Personal consultations between the student and the instructor are held at least four times throughout the trimester, preferably in weeks 1, 3, 6, and 10.
• The amount and quality of academic work required must be equivalent to the credit hour and contact hour policy requirements for the course being replaced.
• The directed study is to be completed during the stated trimester time frame, with all typical deadlines observed, and no extensions granted.
• Credit hours of directed study in a degree program may not exceed 10% of the total credits required for graduation.
• DMin students are allowed up to six credits.

Note that approval for a directed study is not guaranteed; it is the exception to the rule. A student considering a directed study must contact the CAO during the registration period prior to the beginning of a trimester to allow time for consideration of the request and management of the above details.

To begin the process of requesting a Directed Study, request a Directed Study Form from the Chief Academic Officer (mjohnson@winebrenner.edu) in which you explain your unusual circumstances requiring the Directed Study delivery format.

Independent research (independent learning) involves in-depth investigations or other kinds of extensive projects undertaken by individual students in consultation with an instructor appointed by the Chief Academic Officer. In many cases, the CAO serves as the facilitating instructor. An independent research course does not duplicate the essential content of any course regularly offered in a classroom setting but provides an opportunity for students who have demonstrated the capability to go beyond the Seminary’s regular course offerings in both depth and scope. 

Independent research / learning follows a constructivist methodology in which the student designs learning outcomes in consultation with the instructor of record, actively constructing their own knowledge through experience and reflection.

Constructivism in education is an educational theory that posits that students actively construct their own knowledge through experience and reflection, rather than passively receiving information from an instructor. This approach shifts the instructor’s role to that of a facilitator. The student is the active designer and participant in learning, not merely a recipient of information.

A student may earn no more than six (6) hours of credit in independent research, including the master’s level and the doctoral level combined. Master’s level students are cautioned that independent research/learning used on the master’s level may restrict its use in future doctoral studies. Since these courses involve advanced academic work, it is recommended that all foundational courses in a department be taken first. Students interested in pursuing an independent research course will utilize the following procedures:

• The student requests an Application for Independent Research form from the CAO (mjohnson@winebrenner.edu). Upon submitting the completed form, the CAO will confer with the student’s advisor and an instructor who will facilitate the independent research regarding approval. If all agree, the CAO then registers the student.
• Once the application is approved, the student will develop a syllabus, which contains a learning contract. (Included in the Application for Independent Research form.) Both the syllabus and the learning contract will be developed by the student in consultation with the appointed instructor and must be completed no less than two weeks before the start of the trimester.
• Once the student receives notification of approval of the syllabus and embedded learning contract, he or she may proceed with the independent research project. The instructor appointed to facilitate the independent research will serve final evaluator of the student’s work on the project. The completion deadline for the research project is the end of the trimester, unless otherwise specified in the syllabus.

Note that approval for independent research is not guaranteed. A student considering independent research must contact the CAO during the registration period prior to the beginning of a term to allow time for consideration of the request and management of the above details.

All other questions can be directed to Dr. Martin Johnson, Chief Academic Officer, at mjohnson@winebrenner.edu.