Registration

Registration Forms
The following forms may be download, printed and filled out for use by students:

Course registration forms are available from the Office of the Registrar.

Early and General Registration
Currently registered and newly admitted students may register in advance of each academic term. General registration is also held at the beginning of each semester or session. Consult the course schedule for registration dates each semester.

Changes in Registration
Any change in courses after initial registration requires written approval from the academic adviser and the Office of the Dean. After the first five class days of the semester, no courses may be added. Courses may be dropped during the first ten days of the semester without financial penalty. Courses dropped two to six weeks into the semester incur a financial penalty. After seven weeks into the semester, no refund is issued. After the first ten weeks of classes, no grading basis for a course may be changed, nor may one withdraw from a course. See the Academic Calendar for notice of these deadlines.

Cross-Registration
Aquinas students may cross-register for courses offered at Saint Louis University, Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, Eden Theological Seminary and Covenant Seminary. Aquinas students who wish to participate in courses from these institutions must register at Aquinas Institute according to regular registration procedures; no special registration at the other institutions is necessary.

Continuation Status
Students who do not register for credit in a given semester must register for continuation status and pay a continuation status fee. Continuation status applies to students whose studies are interrupted, or who have completed all degree requirements but have not completed comprehensive examinations, thesis, papers or other non-coursework requirements. Students who fail to register for continuation status will be subject to program requirements in effect at the time rather than those that were in effect at the time of enrollment at Aquinas. Any new or additional requirements must be met for graduation.

Withdrawing from a Course
A student may obtain an authorized withdrawal from a course if he or she obtains permission from an academic adviser and if the withdrawal is requested prior to the deadline for the semester. Any student who wishes to withdraw from a class should contact the Registrar's Office.

Withdrawing from Aquinas Institute
Any student who must withdraw from a course or from any term or session after registering must submit a written request or notification to the Dean. Failure to file the signed request or notification within one week of the last attendance in class constitutes an unauthorized withdrawal. Withdrawal may entitle the student to a tuition refund.

Admission to Candidacy
Admission to Aquinas Institute as a degree student does not automatically guarantee admission to a degree program. Admission to a degree program is required for graduation. In order to be admitted to a degree program, a student applies for candidacy for that specific program. In order to be admitted to a degree program, a student must:

Complete the ProSeminar, in which the student will be oriented to the five habitus and will begin compiling a portfolio of graduate work that gives testimony to his/her efforts in engaging the habitus:
- excellence in written and oral communication
- close reading of texts
- analysis of social context
- theological reflection
- collaboration
Achieve the cumulative grade point average of 3.00.
File an Application for Candidacy (60k PDF) along with above portfolio prior to the halfway point of his/her degree program.
Meet with the Faculty Candidacy Committee to discuss student's demonstration of basic competency in the habitus.

After consultation with the faculty, the Academic Dean will render one of three decisions:

Admit the student to candidacy.
The student proceeds to fulfill the degree requirements.
Meet with the student to discuss pending matters that need to be addressed before he/she can be admitted to candidacy.
In the case of pending admission, after the student feels that he/she has addressed these matters in an acceptable manner, then he/she meets with the Academic Dean, and another all-faculty vote is held. Students who choose to continue coursework before this second vote is held, do so at their own risk-aware that they have not yet been admitted to program.
Refuse admission to candidacy if the student's performance is unsatisfactory.
"Performance" is understood to include personal and academic behavior, spiritual maturity, psychological health, appropriate social/interpersonal interaction and ministerial professionalism. Students who are refused admission to candidacy are asked to withdraw from the school. A student who is refused admission to candidacy may appeal the refusal through the Grievance Procedure described in the Student Handbook.

Should a student wish to change programs after acceptance into a program, the student must file a new application to be signed by the Academic Dean.

Graduation Procedure
When all degree requirements have been completed, students must complete an Application for Graduation. The student is responsible for filling out Part I of the application and meeting with the academic adviser to complete Part II. The student submits the form to the Registrar. The Dean then presents graduation candidates to the faculty for approval.

Transcripts of Records
Upon written authorization of the student, the Registrar's Office will release official academic records. To send a transcript, students and former students should fill out a Transcript Request Form (10k PDF) and mail it to the Registrar. Transcripts; are generally sent directly from one legitimate institution to another. Transcripts of records will not be released if the student's financial account is in arrears.

Release of Records
Aquinas Institute affirms the concept of personal privacy and confidentiality of records, and adheres to the letter and spirit of the provisions of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as they pertain to higher education.