Updated: August 2021

REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN

THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 7418 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15208

(412) 731-6000

STUDENT HANDBOOK Table of Contents

WELCOME! ......................................................................................... 1

GENERAL INFORMATION ........................................................... 1 Parking ........................................................................................................1 Campus .......................................................................................................1 Security .......................................................................................................1 Fire Precautions .........................................................................................2 Emergency Closing or Class Cancellation ..............................................2 Offices .........................................................................................................2 Telephones .................................................................................................2 Equipment and Supplies ..........................................................................2 Guests ..........................................................................................................2 Crown & Covenant Publications .............................................................3

STUDENT INFORMATION ........................................................... 3 Bulletin Boards ...........................................................................................3 RPTS News .................................................................................................3 Chapel .........................................................................................................4 Student Housing ........................................................................................4 Emergency Contact Registration and Missing Student Policy ............4 Printing/Photocopying..............................................................................4 Student Identification ...............................................................................5 Library ........................................................................................................5 Wireless Network ......................................................................................5 Network Use ..............................................................................................5 Computer Security ....................................................................................5 Student Email .............................................................................................5 Mailboxes ....................................................................................................6 Meals ...........................................................................................................6 Kitchen Use ................................................................................................6 Vending Machines .....................................................................................6

Seminary Women ......................................................................................6 FEAST (Friends Eating at Seminary Tables) ..........................................7 Prayer Groups ............................................................................................7

ACADEMIC INFORMATION ........................................................ 7 Student Web Portal (Blackbaud) .............................................................7 Registration ................................................................................................7 Registration for a Spouse ..........................................................................8 Moodle ........................................................................................................8 Booklists ......................................................................................................8 Academic Advisor and Faculty Mentor .................................................8 On-Campus Class Absence ......................................................................9 Course evaluations ....................................................................................9

POLICIES AND REGULATIONS .................................................. 9 Children on Campus .................................................................................9 Alcohol and Other Drugs .........................................................................9 RPTS Statement on Human Identity and Christian behavior ............ 10 Community Standards ............................................................................ 11 Student Records and Directory Information ........................................ 13 Nondiscrimination Policy....................................................................... 15 Cheating and Plagiarism ........................................................................ 15 Formal Student Complaint Process ....................................................... 15

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS .............................................. 16

WELCOME! The Board of Trustees, Faculty, and Staff welcome you to the Reformed

Presbyterian Theological Seminary as a student and trust that you will

have an enriching experience during the time that you are here. This

Student Handbook is provided to give you helpful information about

various processes and procedures. Please refer to the Academic Catalog

(http://rpts.edu/catalog.pdf) for more information. Information in this

publication is subject to change without notice.

“The mission of the Seminary is to educate students who love the Lord

Jesus Christ and His Word, equipping pastors for the ministry of the

Gospel and preparing others in the church for effective service in His

Kingdom, all within the framework of the historic Reformed faith”

(Academic Catalog, p. 9).

GENERAL INFORMATION

PARKING Students are to park behind or on the far side of Rutherford Hall. Parking

near the front entrance is reserved for faculty, staff, and guests. Carnegie

Place residents may park between Crown & Covenant’s parking space

and the tree across from the chapel. A basketball court is located beside

the shed; do not park in that area. Students may not park in the lot nearest

the front street entrance during the day. This area is reserved for the

offices of the RPCNA and Crown & Covenant. Students may park in this

area between the hours of 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 a.m., but vehicles must be

moved by 7:30 a.m.

CAMPUS Take initiative to keep our buildings and grounds neat and attractive. Do

what you can to conserve light and heat. Turn out lights in rooms unless

you are coming right back. Do not adjust thermostats. If you move

furniture in the building, see that it is put back into place when leaving.

If you notice any maintenance needs in the building (hazards, burnt out

lights, cleaning deficiencies, etc.), enter them as a maintenance work

order here: http://s.rpts.edu/BldgWork. We want our campus to be a

positive testimony for Christ.

SECURITY The doors to Rutherford Hall and the Willson Center are locked and

require a code to be unlocked from outside. Do not give this code out to

anyone, including your children. If you forget the code, press the call

button. If others you do not know come in with you, be responsible to

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make sure that they are here legitimately. If you are unsure, do not open the

door. If you are expecting a guest, notify the office.

FIRE PRECAUTIONS The metal doors on the stairs on all floors are to be kept closed at all times

for fire protection. Do not prop them open. The fire alarm system on each

floor gives warning in the building only. IN CASE OF FIRE, EVACUATE,

THEN CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BY DIALING 911. Resident

students should know the location of the fire extinguishers on each floor.

Fire extinguishers are located throughout the building. The red PULL

alarms will sound an alarm only in the building.

EMERGENCY CLOSING OR CLASS CANCELLATION It is the practice of the Seminary to hold regular classes and activities on

all days scheduled on the Seminary calendar. If an emergency develops

that requires the cancellation of classes and/or activities, the staff will

email or call students who are expected. Ensure that your contact

information is kept current in the web portal. If a weather-related closing

is necessary, an announcement will air on KDKA Radio, 1020 AM and be

posted online at www.kdka.com.

OFFICES The Main Office will normally be open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.,

Monday through Friday, holidays excepted. Recognize that all offices,

including the Main Office, are the work areas of Seminary faculty and

staff. These offices and their equipment are not to be used by students.

Respect the confidentiality of materials on or in desks and files.

TELEPHONES Phones located at the Seminary are predominately for faculty and staff

use. If you need to make a call, utilize the phone in the basement. This

phones will only make local, 911, and toll-free calls. Phones located in

any office and the Library are for Seminary staff use only, except in an

emergency.

EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES All materials are to be paid for when they are used. If you need

equipment or supplies, check with the staff.

GUESTS Please feel welcome to invite guests to visit the Seminary. If you want

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them to sit in on classes, clear this with the faculty member(s) involved.

If you want your guest to be here for meals, make arrangements in the

Main Office at least two days in advance. When our guest room is

available, guests may also stay overnight. Rates for guests are $25.00 per

person per night. Arrangements for overnight guests must be made in

the Main Office in advance. Payment should be made upon arrival.

CROWN & COVENANT PUBLICATIONS Crown & Covenant Publications is the publishing ministry of the

Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA), offering

many products, including Psalm-singing materials and Reformed

doctrine books. They also publish a magazine, The Reformed Presbyterian

Witness. Their telephone number is 412-241-0436. All students, staff, and

faculty receive a 20% discount on in-store orders. Occasionally, students

may help with unloading new shipments of books and receive a free book

as thanks.

STUDENT INFORMATION

BULLETIN BOARDS The Seminary has four bulletin boards which are meant to be a vehicle

for information and communication.

• The main floor bulletin board is for posting of RPTS information by

faculty and staff only.

• The basement bulletin board to the right of the student mailboxes is

for general use. Clear your material with the Main Office before

posting items on this bulletin board.

• The veterans' bulletin board is in the dining room and provides

contact information for the Veterans Administration, flyers

regarding chaplaincy programs, etc. Contact the Financial Aid Office

with questions or to post materials.

• The basement bulletin board nearest the dining room is for Geneva

College/CUBM use only.

RPTS NEWS

RPTS regularly post announcements and important information in

Blackbaud under the News tab (Featured Content and Recent Activity)

and Calendar. News items include academic news; Financial news; RPTS

activities; schedules of chapel speakers and final exams; special seminars;

news from students, faculty, alumni, and the Library; and miscellaneous

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information. On occassion, an email of the RPTS News, called The New

RP TimeS will be sent out as well. If you have information that you would

like included in the RPTS news, email the details to the Main Office

(office@rpts.edu).

CHAPEL “Chapel services are an important part of the life of the Seminary

community and are held Tuesday through Friday mornings from 9:50-

10:20 a.m. Professors, students, and guest preachers lead us during these

worship times together. All students are required to attend chapel when

they are on campus during that period of time and on days when they

have classes either 2nd or 3rd period. Any exceptions must be arranged

with the President” (Academic Catalog, p. 21).

STUDENT HOUSING Dormitory rooms, located on the third floor of Rutherford Hall, are

available to male students. A limited number of apartments for married

students are also available (https://s.rpts.edu/housing). Students living in

Seminary housing should refer to the Dorm Handbook or the Apartment

Handbook, appropriately, for additional guidelines.

EMERGENCY CONTACT REGISTRATION AND MISSING

STUDENT POLICY During the course registration process on the web portal, students must

provide two current emergency contacts. This confidential information

will be used only by authorized RPTS personnel in the event of an

emergency or if a student is reported missing while at the Seminary.

If a student is suspected to be missing from campus, students, faculty,

and staff are instructed to immediately report this information to the

Director of Student Services or the Main Office.

In the event that a student is reported missing, after 24 hours the

Seminary staff will take the following steps:

• Notify the individual identified as the student’s emergency contact.

• If needed, the Seminary will notify the appropriate law enforcement

agency.

PRINTING/PHOTOCOPYING Students may use the copier located on the first floor of the Library. The

copier has a pay station attached that allows students to use their own

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secured account. The account may be funded with cash, credit card,

Apple Pay, or Google Pay.

Students are not permitted to use the copier in the front office.

STUDENT IDENTIFICATION A student photo ID is issued at the beginning of each academic year. This

card contains your student ID number and a library barcode for

borrowing materials from the RPTS Library. Lost cards can be replaced

for $10.

LIBRARY The Library staff will help you with any Library questions. The Library

also has its own website, where you can find helpful information about

the Library and its resources and services.

WIRELESS NETWORK The Seminary is equipped with wireless network, which will appear as

“rpts-wireless” in your network selection settings. The wireless key may

be obtained from the Main Office and should not be shared with anyone

who is not a student.

NETWORK USE While we respect your freedom to use the Internet how you wish, our

network may not be used for illegal or immoral purposes, including but

not limited to: downloading pirated software, music, or movies; any and

all forms of pornography; spamming; hacking; and the like. Do not use

the network bandwidth to play online games or watch videos and

movies, as it slows down the network for your fellow students.

COMPUTER SECURITY All computers at the Seminary are equipped with antivirus software, and

all student computers that use our wireless network must be equipped

with antivirus software. If your computer is not so equipped, do not use

our wireless network. NOTE: Microsoft Security Essentials is available as

a free download from Microsoft and has free lifetime updates.

STUDENT EMAIL All Seminary students receive an @rpts.edu email address. This email

address will be very important for your entire career at RPTS. All

communications from the Seminary to the student will be done through your

RPTS email account. You may access your student email by going to

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http://mail.rpts.edu. Your username is the first letter of your first name

followed by your last name, unless you have a longer name or share the

same first initial and last name as another student. Check your RPTS

email regularly.

MAILBOXES Mailboxes for faculty and staff are in the Main Office. Each on-site

student has a mailbox in the basement. Check your mailbox each time

you come to class.

MEALS Lunch meals are offered throughout the academic year from Tuesday

through Friday, with the exception of finals weeks. Lunches should be

purchased in the Main Office at least two days in advance. The cost for

students is $6 per meal. These prices are subject to change.

KITCHEN USE Dorm students have exclusive use of the refrigerator and storage

shelving in the back pantry. Non-resident students should not use these

areas for food storage. The refrigerators in the front pantry may be used

by non-resident students and staff members. Mark all items with your

name. Do not allow food to accumulate or spoil in the refrigerator. The

refrigerators will be cleaned out at the end of each quarter.

If you use the kitchen or lunch room, clean up after yourselves. Rinse

and put dishes in the dishwasher. Clean countertops, tables, floors, etc.

as you use them.

VENDING MACHINES Vending machines are available in the basement near the elevator where

you can purchase snacks, drinks, and coffee. The coffee is via a Keurig

system with pods available in the snack machine. The machines accept

cash, debit, and credit cards.

SEMINARY WOMEN A group for female students, seminarians’ wives, and other Seminary

women meets the second Monday of the month throughout the year from

6:30-8:30 p.m., for fellowship, support, spiritual growth, and preparation

for service. The schedule, including the monthly topic, will be posted in

the Blackbaud calendar. An email prior to the meeting is usually sent out.

Babysitting is provided.

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FEAST (FRIENDS EATING AT SEMINARY TABLES) The Seminary community and their families are invited to share a

covered-dish dinner early in each quarter. Look for announcements in

the RPTimeS and on the bulletin board.

PRAYER GROUPS Faculty, staff, and students meet each week to pray. Time and location

will be announced. All are invited and encouraged to attend. Other

voluntary prayer groups are encouraged; announcement of such

meetings is appropriate in chapel or in Blackbaud.

ACADEMIC INFORMATION

STUDENT WEB PORTAL (BLACKBAUD) You will use the student web portal for the following:

• Degree requirements and registration

• Viewing grades/unofficial transcript

• Billing, payment, and financial aid information

• Emergency contact information

• Directory (contact information for faculty, staff, and students)

• RPTS links: We should review this section

o Handbooks

▪ RPTS Catalog

▪ Student Handbook

▪ RPTS Style Guide

▪ DMin Handbook

o RPTS Links

▪ RPTS Website

▪ RPTS Library

▪ RPTS on YouTube

▪ Moodle

o Forms

▪ Request for Independent Study

▪ Internship Application

▪ Request for Incomplete Grade

REGISTRATION Registration for a new quarter begins in Week 7 of the current quarter

and must be completed by Week 10. After this date, a late registration fee

will be added to your account. Students are responsible to register for

each quarter through blackbaud.

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Before registering, credit students should always

• Review the course sequence for your degree and concentration

- these begin at page 59 in the catalog.

• Review degree requirements (see separate FAQ)

• Speak with your academic advisor about what courses to take

(this is highly recommended, but not required)

All student accounts and library fines must be paid in full, and any other

holds resolved, prior to registration.

REGISTRATION FOR A SPOUSE All spouses who desire to take classes (audit or credit) must complete an

application and be accepted prior to taking classes. See the Academic

Catalog for specific information regarding spouses taking courses as

auditors or for credit.

MOODLE Moodle is the Seminary’s learning platform, which is used for the

following:

• Course syllabi

• Course materials from professors

• Assignment/exam submission

• Video lectures for distance learning students

Access to your materials in Moodle (https://moodle.rpts.edu/.) will be

available by the first day of each quarter and will terminate three weeks

after the end of each quarter.

BOOKLISTS Prior to each quarter, a booklist will be posted in Blackbaud on the

Resources tab. Students are responsible to order their own materials,

unless otherwise noted.

ACADEMIC ADVISOR AND FACULTY MENTOR Each student is assigned an academic advisor to assist the student in

planning your quarterly schedules and to ensure you meet the

graduation requirements for your degree. Each student is also assigned a

faculty mentor, who is available for counsel, as needs arise, and you will

pray with him during chapel prayer times. It is best to make an

appointment in order to meet with your faculty mentor. Both your

Academic Advisory and your Faculty Mentor may be found in

Blackbaud under Groups, or under My Day – Progress under the

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Advisory section. If you only have one listed, then your advisor and

mentor is the same faculty member.

ON-CAMPUS CLASS ABSENCE • If you have to miss a class, ask a classmate to record the class for you

and collect any handouts from the missed class. This option is

usually the best and easiest.

• Alternatively, you can purchase individual weekly sessions through

Moodle for most classes, if they have been or are being recorded. If

the class is currently being recorded, the recording will usually be

available within 48 hours. CAUTION: If the course is not currently

being recorded, the lecture you purchase may not correspond

entirely with the actual information presented in the on-campus

class you have missed, as professors often vary their content from

year to year. All sales are final, and no refunds will be given for

lectures purchased.

COURSE EVALUATIONS Students are required to complete an evaluation for each course in which

they are enrolled as a credit student. Holds are placed on student

accounts if these are not completed by the due date at the end of each

quarter.

POLICIES AND REGULATIONS

CHILDREN ON CAMPUS The Seminary is committed to providing an educational environment

that facilitates teaching and learning.

• Spouses and children are encouraged to attend chapel.

• Children of students are not to accompany their parents to class

without special permission of the professor.

• Children are not to be left unattended in the building while their

parents are in class or at any other time. The Seminary does not

provide childcare.

• Children in the classrooms, Library, or other areas of the building,

may create distractions or disruptions, as well as present potential

liability for the Seminary.

• Children are not allowed to use the Seminary computers.

ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS The possession or use of tobacco or illegal drugs is forbidden in the

buildings and on the grounds of the Seminary. The possession or use of

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alcoholic beverages is forbidden in Rutherford Hall and in the BCI and

its adjacent classrooms. Students who have a problem with alcohol or

drug use may request private counseling with any faculty member or at

the Biblical Counseling Institute. However, continued offenses or refusal

to accept counseling will be grounds for dismissal.

RPTS STATEMENT ON HUMAN IDENTITY AND CHRISTIAN

BEHAVIOR

Statement on the Sanctity of Human Life

We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His

image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions,

including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally

challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception

through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect,

and value all human life (Psalm 139).

Statement on Gender

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each

person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary

sexes together reflect God's image and nature (Genesis 1:26-27).

We acknowledge that in this fallen world, on rare occasions, a

person is born with anatomical ambiguity. We affirm the dignity

and image of God fully shared by such persons and support their

efforts to determine with competent medical counsel their

anatomical sex and coordinate gender calling (2017Minutes of

Synod, page 122). Nevertheless, the vast majority of persons are

born with clear anatomical sex distinction. God has called each

person to live within the gender indicated by his or her anatomy

(2017 Minutes of Synod, page 120). We believe it is sinful behavior

to reject one's sex given by God at conception or attempting to

alter one's sex given by God at conception, including dressing in

such a way as to willfully reject one's sex given by God at

conception.

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Statement on Marriage

We believe the term "marriage" has only one meaning: the uniting

of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as

delineated in Scripture (Genesis 2:18-25). We believe that

marriage between one man and one woman, for life, uniquely

reflects Christ's relationship with His Church (Ephesians 5:21-22).

We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only

between a man and a woman who are married to each other (1

Corinthians 6:18; 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4). We believe that God has

commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in

outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.

Statement on Sexuality

We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including

adultery, cohabitation, fornication, homosexual behavior,

bisexual conduct, attempts to alter one's sex, bestiality, incest, or

use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God (Matthew

15:18- 20; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

COMMUNITY STANDARDS

COMMITMENT

We commit ourselves to the historical gospel of our Triune

God.

John 17:3

As a community of believers devoted not only to the

accumulation of knowledge but also to the development of

practical ministry skills, a starting point for our fellowship is a

commitment to the historic Christian faith. This includes

acknowledging the only true God to be one God in three distinct

persons and the belief that eternal life is a gift of God received by

faith alone through the righteousness of Christ alone.1

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HONOR

We honor one another in our relationships and work for

Christ's glory.

Romans 12:10

Further, all Christians are called by God to a life of holiness. At

the Seminary, where we train those who are preparing for

service in Christ's church, we are especially concerned to be

above reproach in our conduct. In our study and in our

relationships with one another, we seek to be faithful, wise, and

filled with the fruit of the Spirit.

ACCOUNTABILITY

We promote healthy communication

to achieve accountability in the Spirit's strength.

Galatians 5:25

We are committed to holding one another accountable in matters

of Christlikeness and spiritual maturity, seeking to encourage

and strengthen one another in a spirit of meekness.2 All members

of the community—faculty, staff, students, board members— are

called to respect one another in regard to diversity of

denomination, ethnicity, and culture.3 All members are expected

to refrain from behavior which Scripture forbids, including

sexual misconduct (sexual relations outside of marriage, sexual

harassment, sexual abuse, same-gender sexual relations,4 use of

pornography, and any other sexual or gender deviation contrary

to God's Word),5 theft,6 academic or personal dishonesty,7

substance abuse,8 misuse of property,9 threats to the health and

safety of others10 physical or emotional abuse,11 financial

irresponsibility,12 disrespect,13 or violation of campus

regulations.14 These behaviors damage or even destroy true

fellowship and the spiritual vitality which Christ purchased with

His own blood.15

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The Seminary may deny admission, admonish, warn, place on

probation, suspend, expel, withhold a degree, deny

employment, terminate employment, or take other action in

response to beliefs or personal conduct outside of these

Standards.

1 WLC Q 8 to Q11, Q70

2 WLC Q 122 – Matt. 22:39; Matt. 7:12, Gal. 6:1-2

3 WLC Q 126 – Eph. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:17; Rom. 12:10

4 SHICB

5 WLC Q 137 to Q 139 – 1 Thess. 4:4; Job 31:1; Matt. 5:28; SHICB

6 WLC Q 140 to Q 142 – Ps. 15:2; Rom. 13:7; Phil. 2:4

7 WLC Q 140 to Q 142 – Ps. 15:2; Rom. 13:7; Phil. 2:4

8 WLC Q 134 to Q 136 – Eph. 4:26-27; Eph. 5:28-29; Luke 21:34; 1 John 3:15 9 WLC Q

140 to Q 142

10 WLC Q 134 to Q 136 – Eph. 4:26-27; Eph. 5:28-29; Luke 21:34; 1 John 3:15 11 WLC

Q 134 to Q 136 – Eph. 4:26-27; Eph. 5:28-29; Luke 21:34; 1 John 3:15 12 WLC Q 140 to

Q 142 – Ps. 15:2; Rom. 13:7; Phil. 2:4

13 WLC Q 124 to Q 133

14 WLC Q 124 to Q 128 – Eph. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:17; Rom. 12:10

15 WCF 26.1, 26.2 – 1 John 1:3; Heb. 10:24-25

WLC – Westminster Larger Catechism

Q – Question

WCF – Westminster Confession of Faith

SHICB – Statement on Human Identity and Christian Behavior

STUDENT RECORDS AND DIRECTORY INFORMATION The Seminary maintains a policy of security and confidentiality of

student educational records. Any printed records are kept in locked

offices and digital records are stored in our secure student information

system and our secure institutional network, both of which are backed

up at an off-site location.

The Seminary does not accept Title IV student loan monies and is not

bound by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA),

however, its policies are nonetheless generally consistent with FERPA.

EDUCATIONAL RECORDS

• A student has the right to review his/her education records.

• A student should submit a written request to the Registrar that

identifies the record(s) he or she wishes to inspect. The student will

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be notified of the time and place where the records may be reviewed.

The Registrar will be present during this review.

• A student has the right to request an amendment of the education

record that the student believes is inaccurate or misleading. The

student should write to the Registrar, clearly identifying the part of

the record that he or she wants to have changed, and specify why it

is inaccurate or misleading.

• If the Seminary decides not to amend the record as requested by the

student, the Seminary will notify the student of the decision. The

student may appeal this decision.

• A student has the right to consent to the disclosure of personally

identifiable information contained in the student’s educational

record.

• One exception that permits disclosure without consent is disclosure

to school officials with legitimate educational interests, i.e. if the

official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or

her professional responsibility.

• Upon request, RPTS may disclose education records, without

consent, to officials of another school in which a student seeks to be

enrolled.

• RPTS may also disclose personal information when a student’s

health/safety are in jeopardy or if/when a student poses a significant

threat to self or others.

CAMPUS DIRECTORY INFORMATION

RPTS has designated certain personally identifiable student information

as “directory information.” This information includes a student’s name,

campus address, RPTS email address, permanent address, telephone

numbers, and photograph.

Directory information which may be disclosed to others without the

student’s permission also includes the following items: date and place of

birth, actual or anticipated graduation date, fields of study, actual or

anticipated degree(s), dates of RPTS attendance, honors and awards

received, current class schedule, and the most recent school previously

attended.

The same information may be posted on Blackbaud in Directories, which

are accessible to members of the RPTS community through the web

portal via SSO (single sign-on) with your rpts.edu email account.

The Seminary may disclose any of these items at its discretion, without

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prior consent, unless the student notifies the Registrar in writing that he

or she does not wish to permit such disclosure. Requests for non-

disclosure by the student are in effect from the date received in writing

from the student until rescinded in writing by the student or the student’s

death.

The confidentiality flag on your record will stay in effect even after you

leave RPTS unless you notify the Registrar of your request in writing to

rescind the flag. You should be aware that this confidentiality flag will

keep the Seminary from responding to routine verification requests by

potential employers or other schools.

NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY “No student shall be excluded from study at the Seminary on the basis of

nationality, race, ethnicity, or gender, and all students shall be afforded

equal dignity and respect as members of the student body” (Academic

Catalog, p. 27).

CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM The Seminary policy on cheating and plagiarism is found in the Academic

Catalog (p. 53). To better understand how to avoid plagiarism, please see

the RPTS Style Guide. The RPTS Style Guide and Library Policies on the

Library website are also helpful resources in understanding issues

related to copyright laws.

FORMAL STUDENT COMPLAINT PROCESS The Seminary takes formal student complaints seriously and maintains

records of formal, written student complaints which are filed with the

President or Academic Dean. These records include information about

the disposition of the complaints, as well as the complaints themselves.

These records are made available to evaluation teams of the Association

for Theological Schools (ATS) for review during re-accreditation visits.

A complainant must be either a full-time or part-time student enrolled

for class at the time of the complaint or a former student who has taken

classes within two years of the time of the complaint and hopes to re-

enroll. A complaint from a former student who has not studied at RPTS

within two years of the time of the complaint may be handled differently.

All formal complaints must be written, dated, and signed by the

complainant.

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Procedure:

Complete records of each student complaint and the institutional

responses to these complaints are kept on file by the Seminary. Upon

receipt of a formal student complaint, steps will be immediately taken to

resolve the complaint. The following information will be kept on file:

• the person to whom the complaint was addressed

• the date the complaint was submitted

• the substance of the complaint

• the determination of the validity of the concern expressed

• the steps taken by the institution to resolve the problem, if needed

• the institution’s final decision(s) regarding the complaint

• the response of the complainant to the decision(s) of the institution

• the external actions initiated by the student to resolve the complaint

(if any).

Complaints which are received by ATS and forwarded to the Seminary

from RPTS students or former students who have taken classes within

two years of the date of a complaint will be handled according to the

above guidelines.

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS

MAIN OFFICE – (412) 731-6000

BCI OFFICE – (412) 731-3000

EMERGENCY NUMBER – 911 (fire, police, ambulance/paramedics)

EMERGENCY SEMINARY CONTACTS Josh Nye – (724) 674-1091

Ed Blackwood – (412) 407-3317

Mark Sampson – (412) 708-6846