Community Life and Services

Worship

Daily worship is central to the life and purpose of the Divinity School. During the academic year, one hour is reserved each day for chapel worship and an accompanying coffee hour. The Divinity School community of students, faculty, staff, and administration is invited to gather in worship and to share one another’s company in the socializing that follows worship. In these ways, the community is reminded of the central purpose of theological education, as well as receiving training for practical ministry, and invited into the life of fellowship made possible when we gather in conversation and collegiality.

Chapel services are held in Marquand Chapel at 10.30 a.m. Monday through Friday, and coffee hour is held in the Common Room following each chapel service. These services are thirty minutes in length Monday through Thursday, and are extended to forty-five minutes on Friday when we celebrate the Eucharist.

The daily program of worship in Marquand Chapel is diverse and dynamic, and the ecumenical nature of the Divinity School is expressed in the constantly changing leadership and content of the services. In keeping with the esteemed heritage of preaching at Yale and the Divinity School, sermons are offered twice a week by faculty, students, staff, and invited guests from beyond the Divinity School campus. On other days the rich symbolic, artistic, and musical possibilities of the Christian tradition are explored and developed. The assembly’s song is supported by the Marquand Chapel Choir, the Marquand Gospel Choir, three student-organized vocal groups, many and various soloists, and occasional ensembles. Many avenues for musical leadership are open to the student body of the Divinity School by volunteering, as are many avenues of leadership through the spoken word, dance, and visual and other liturgical arts

The chapel program is under the direction of two faculty members—the dean of chapel and the director of chapel music—and is supported by a team that includes a liturgical coordinator, three student chapel ministers, a work-study worker, an administrator, two student organists/pianists, two student choir directors, and a professional gospel choir director.

In addition to the daily morning worship, there are several evening services, including the annual Advent Service and the Easter Rejoicing Service. Private and individual worship is provided for in the Nouwen Chapel (in the library building), as well as free moments in Marquand Chapel.

The worship life of the Divinity School is rich and varied beyond the walls of Marquand Chapel. The Berkeley Divinity School, through its St. Luke’s Chapel, provides worship on a daily basis and throughout the day. There are Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, and Holy Eucharist every day of the week, and the entire Divinity School community is invited to participate. The Lutheran students provide a service of Evening Prayer once a week in the Henri Nouwen prayer chapel in the library. Roman Catholic students provide weekly Mass in Marquand Chapel.

Other worship opportunities arise each year under individual and group initiatives, such as prayer groups organized by the Evangelical students, house church meetings organized by the Women’s Center, and occasional revival services organized by the Black Seminarians.

Yale University, through its Chaplain’s Office and organization of campus ministries known as Yale Religious Ministry, is rich in worship opportunities for all faith traditions. Yale University’s chaplain, Sharon Kugler, directs the staff of the Chaplain’s Office, which offers programs of worship and spiritual reflection throughout campus and in Battell Chapel. Yale Religious Ministry, with representatives from Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, and Baha’i traditions, offers the Christian community a full program of worship opportunities with undergraduate and graduate students through the St. Thomas More Catholic Student Center, Luther House, Episcopal Church at Yale, Yale Christian Fellowship, and many other programs of campus ministry. The city of New Haven and the many towns surrounding it likewise offer numerous opportunities for worship through established congregations of most Christian denominations.

Libraries and Collections

Yale’s libraries have been developed over a period of three centuries. Throughout its history, the University has devoted a significant proportion of its resources to the building of collections that have an international reputation and that are matched by those of few other universities in the world.

The University Library consists of a central collection, the Sterling Memorial Library, seven school libraries, and forty-seven departmental and college libraries, containing over 12 million volumes. Approximately 160,000 volumes are added annually. These resources are available to the students of the Divinity School in common with other members of the University.

The Divinity Library was established in 1932 through the consolidation of the Day Historical Library of Foreign Missions, the Trowbridge Reference Library, and the Richard Sheldon Sneath Memorial Library of Religious Education. These collections have been augmented through purchases and gifts. The gifts include the libraries of Deans Charles R. Brown and Richard J. Wood, Professors Benjamin W. Bacon, Frank C. Porter, Douglas Clyde Macintosh, Henry Hallam Tweedy, Kenneth Scott Latourette, Carl H. Kraeling, Roland H. Bainton, Liston Pope, Johannes Hoekendijk, Henri Nouwen, Robert L. Calhoun, George Lindbeck, Randolph Crump Miller, James Dittes, and Marvin Pope; the files on religion in higher education collected by Clarence P. Shedd; the Edward Sylvester Smith Collection of Methodistica; and the John R. Mott Library. The library contains more than 500,000 volumes, 250,000 microforms, and 3,700 linear feet of manuscript and archival material.

The primary strength of the Divinity Library is in the history of missions, Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox; Christian doctrine, historical and constructive; biblical literature; and church history. The mission collection is one of two such major collections to be found anywhere, and the section on doctrine is unusually complete. Subjects particularly well documented include Jansenism; American slavery and the Church; and the classical theologians, especially Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, Schleiermacher, Harnack, and Barth.

The Special Collections Department is a rich source of primary research material. It includes the archives and papers of the World Christian Student Federation, the Student Volunteer Movement, the Student Division of the YMCA, John R. Mott, Henry Knox Sherrill, Horace Bushnell, Dwight L. Moody, the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia, and the China Records Project. This department also houses many microtext collections of missionary archives, a large collection of historical sermons, the publications of numerous missionary and Third World ecclesiastical bodies, and the papers of many Yale scholars.

In addition to its extensive print and manuscript collections, the Divinity Library’s Henry H. Tweedy Reference and Resource program provides access to research materials in electronic formats. At the heart of the program is a number of public and staff computer workstations connected to locally mounted tools and databases, to public resources on the University’s campus-wide network, and to the Internet. Patrons may use the workstations to query a wide variety of bibliographic and full-text databases, and to communicate with scholars throughout the world. The Tweedy program also provides facilities for using audio, video, and multimedia tools for study and research. Inaugurated in 1992, the program is named in honor of Henry Hallam Tweedy, Professor of Practical Theology at the Divinity School from 1909 to 1937, and Acting Dean from 1934 to 1935.

Resources found elsewhere in the University bearing upon the work of the Divinity School include approximately 200,000 volumes classed as Religion in the Sterling Memorial Library and the Seeley G. Mudd Library. This collection contains a wealth of scholarly periodicals and publications of learned societies, the source material of the Protestant Reformation, Byzantine and Orthodox literature, early Americana, and older books acquired in the past. A primary collection of Mormonism is in the Collection of Western Americana, together with related materials. Other collections important to the Divinity School are Judaica; the American Oriental Society; and the Lowell Mason Collection of Hymnology in the School of Music Library. Early English church history imprints and the James Weldon Johnson Memorial Collection of Negro Arts and Letters are found in the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. There is an excellent collection on Cardinal John Henry Newman and the Tractarian Movement. Christian art is in the Arts Library; archaeology bearing on biblical studies and Christian origins is found in association with archaeology, ancient Near East, and classics. Resources to support the various area programs at Yale—East Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Slavic and East European—are invaluable for the study of missions, non-Christian religions and culture, and world Christianity. The collections of the University illustrating the monuments and literature of Assyria and Babylonia are housed in Sterling Memorial Library.

The Yale University Art Gallery houses a collection of Palestinian pottery, acquired through the generosity of the late Mrs. Francis Wayland. Collections obtained through the excavations of the Yale–British Expedition to Gerasa, Transjordania, and the Yale–French Academy Expedition to Dura-Europos are also located in the Art Gallery.

Access to Resources

The Divinity Library offers a full range of bibliographic and technical services. During the term, the library is open Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 2 to 11 p.m. Daily messenger service is provided between the Divinity Library and other circulating collections at Yale.

Career Services

The Office of Career Services sponsors a variety of programs designed to help students clarify their vocational calls, learn job search skills and strategies, and develop the documents necessary to find appropriate employment after graduation. Programs are planned to meet the interests and needs of students planning ministries and careers in a wide variety of arenas.

Specific programs and services include, but are not limited to, unlimited individual career counseling, individual career assessment testing, corporate workshops on résumé and CV development with follow-up appointments to craft these documents individually, list-serves where vacancies are announced, access to a credential file system for storage of reference letters and transcripts, practice interviews, access to the career network as sponsored by the Association of Yale Alumni/ae, and production of sermon CDs for future pastors. Other programs are added when possible. The Career Services Office is a counseling office, not a placement office. Vacancies are advertised when known, but we do not sponsor on-campus recruiting.

All services are available to current students, and many to alumni/ae. For appointments or questions, students may contact divinity.careers@yale.edu or call 203.432.9485.

Student Book Supply

The Student Book Supply (SBS) has been serving the needs of Yale Divinity School for seventy years. It is committed to providing the greater YDS community with the best in current and classic theological scholarship. In addition to providing textbooks for Divinity School classes, the SBS stocks over 14,000 titles for practical ministry, academic study, and professional service. The bookstore also stocks student supplies and insignia merchandise, and sponsors periodic book signings and author lectures.

Now professionally staffed, the bookstore maintains the tradition of its earlier life as a student cooperative through its members’ discount program. The bookstore actively participates in the wider theological and religious bookselling communities through its membership in the Association of Theological Booksellers and the American Booksellers Association.

Campus Mailroom

The Yale Divinity School campus mailroom is located on the first floor of the Divinity School building, adjacent to the commuter lounge. The sole purpose of the mailroom is to receive and send YDS and University correspondence. The Divinity School is not responsible for receiving or sending personal mail and packages. All members of the community should use their primary home address for all personal mail and package deliveries.

Student Groups and Activities

Yale Divinity School students enjoy a rich community life in both the larger University and the Divinity School itself. As members of the Yale University graduate and professional student population, Divinity students are invited to participate in all appropriate student organizations and activities. Divinity students enjoy the nightly social life of the Gryphon, the graduate student pub located off York Street near the central University campus. Students are involved in leadership of graduate student activities and programs through the Graduate and Professional Student Senate. These venues for socializing and programming enable Divinity students to meet and work alongside students from the schools of Architecture, Art, Drama, Forestry & Environmental Studies, Law, Management, Medicine, Music, and Nursing, as well as the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

On the Divinity School campus, life outside the classroom centers on two student-led organizations, the Student Council and the Community Life Committee (CLC), both of which provide programming to enrich community life among students, faculty, and staff of the Divinity School. The daily schedule of classes works in concert with the goals of the student organizations by providing two class-free hours each day. The first hour, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., enables students to attend chapel worship and coffee hour, and the second hour, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., enables students to eat lunch together in the refectory and common room and to hold meetings and special events for the community.

The Student Council leadership is elected each spring term (and fall term, if needed). A president, vice president, and secretary give primary leadership to a council of students filling roles such as M.Div. representative, M.A.R. representative, Berkeley Divinity School representative, and Institute of Sacred Music representative, and filling committee representations for the Worship Committee, Professional Studies Committee, Curriculum Committee, and the Committee on Spiritual Formation and the Practice of Faith. Through the Student Council, students have an active voice alongside faculty and administration in making decisions affecting the academic and community life of the Divinity School. In addition, the Student Council, in conjunction with the CLC, addresses the needs of the community as they arise each year. The Student Council sponsors a series of community dinners during the academic year to provide an opportunity for socializing and the sharing of community concerns.

The CLC, under the direction of two co-coordinators and a committee of students and faculty, oversees the work and ministry of student groups on campus. Student groups include the Black Seminarians, the Women’s Center, the Korean Association, the Committee on Social Justice, the Coalition (of Gay, Lesbian, Straight, Bisexual, and Transgendered persons), the Latina/o Association, the Evangelical Fellowship, the Outings Club, the Earth Care Committee, FADS (Fans and Athletes at Divinity School), two a cappella singing groups (“The Sacramental Winers” and “The Bible Belters”), the Catholic Students, the Lutheran Students, the Methodist Society, the Presbyterian/Reformed Students, the Baptist Student Fellowship, and the United Church of Christ/Disciples of Christ Students. In addition, the CLC sponsors monthly nighttime socials called “The Fatted Cafe,” and three annual events: the Christmas Party, the Spring Fling dance, and the All-School Conference (a weeklong program of speakers, panel discussions, dinners, and social events focused on a common theme).

The Before the Fall Orientation for new students, the daily schedule of chapel and coffee hour and lunch, and student-run events throughout the academic year, all make community life at the Divinity School rich in opportunities for learning, socializing, serving, and giving leadership. New ideas for organizations and activities emerge each year as new students join the Divinity School and as new commitments and needs surface among returning students. While many activities are in place, each academic year is made unique by the particular gifts and passions of the student body that gathers in the Divinity School each year. Whether it is gathering students for dinner and discussion in the Slifka (Jewish student) Center, gathering a group to play basketball in the gym each Saturday morning, organizing events for Earth Day, or organizing a group to attend Yale football games, the richness of community life is enhanced by the energies and wishes of the individuals who join this community of faith and learning.

Choirs

The Marquand Chapel Choir and the Marquand Gospel Choir are active student organizations under the supervision of faculty members of the Institute of Sacred Music and the Yale Divinity School. The choirs offer anthems and support congregational singing at weekly services. Full rehearsals for the Marquand Chapel Choir are held every Sunday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. Members are selected in early September. Auditions are for voice placement only. The Gospel Choir requires no auditions and rehearses for two hours per week. Both choirs may be taken for credit (see REL 911 and 913).

Lectureships

The Roland Bainton Lectureship, inaugurated in 1988, represents the two foci of Professor Bainton’s life and work: church history and the church’s witness to peace and justice.

The Bartlett Lectureship was created in 1986 with a gift from the Reverend Robert M. Bartlett, B.D. 1924, and his wife, Sue Bartlett. The lectureship serves a twofold purpose. The first is to foster knowledge and appreciation of the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony and their contribution to the religious, intellectual, and political life of America. The second is to encourage understanding of the history and culture of modern China. These two areas, which have commanded interest and attention over many decades, are treated on a rotating basis. In 1992, the Bartletts added to their gift and broadened the scope to include “Democracy, Human Rights, and World Peace.”

The Lyman Beecher Lectureship was founded in 1871 by a gift from Henry W. Sage, of Brooklyn, New York, as a memorial to the great divine whose name it bears, to sponsor an annual series of lectures on a topic appropriate to the work of the ministry.

The Francis X. Cheney Lectureship in Pastoral Theology was established by students and friends to encourage a minister’s proper focus in pastoral care. The lectureship is open to scholars in all disciplines who seek to bring their expertise to bear on this subject. This lecture is given every second year at Berkeley Divinity School, alternately with the Louis Wetherbee Pitt Lectureship.

The Loring Sabin Ensign Lectureship in Contemporary Interpretation of Religious Issues was founded in 1994 by church members and other friends to honor Loring S. Ensign, M.Div. 1951, for his twenty-five years of service as pastor of the Southport Congregational Church (Connecticut).

The Hoskins Visitorship was established in 1967 in memory of Fred Hoskins, B.D. 1932, by gifts from the churches which he served and from individual friends. The Hoskins Visitor is a Christian leader invited to the School to deal particularly with issues that relate to the reform and renewal of the church. This visitorship is given every second year, alternating with the Luccock Visitorship.

The Luccock Visitorship was established in 1963 in memory of Halford E. Luccock, who served as professor in the Divinity School from 1928 to 1953, by gifts from alumni and other friends. The Luccock Visitor, usually a parish minister, is invited to spend several days at the School. This visitorship is given every second year, alternating with the Hoskins Visitorship.

The Parks-King Lectureship commemorates two civil rights activists, Mrs. Rosa Parks and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was established in 1983 through the efforts of the Yale Black Seminarians. The lecture brings the contributions of African American scholars, social theorists, pastors, and social activists to the Divinity School and to the larger New Haven community.

The Louis Wetherbee Pitt Lectureship was established as a memorial to Dr. Pitt and his wife, Blanche Parmelee Pitt, by his family to provide for lectures by distinguished preachers and world Christians. This lecture is given every second year at Berkeley Divinity School, alternately with the Francis X. Cheney Lectureship.

The Shaffer Lectureship was established in 1929 by a gift from John C. Shaffer of Chicago, Illinois, as a memorial to his son, Kent Shaffer, Ph.D. 1907, to sponsor lectures on the life, character, and teachings of Jesus. This series is given every second year, alternating with the Nathaniel W. Taylor lecture series.

The Margaret Lindquist Sorensen Lectureship was established in 1978 by a gift from her son, Dr. Andrew A. Sorensen, B.D. 1962, to provide an annual series of lectures on politics and ethics.

The Nathaniel W. Taylor Lectureship in Theology was created in 1902 by a gift from Rebecca Taylor Hatch of Brooklyn, New York, in memory of her father, who was Dwight Professor of Didactic Theology from 1822 to 1858. A series of lectures on some theme in theology is given every second year, alternating with the Shaffer Lecture series.

The Dwight H. Terry Lectureship was established in 1905 by a gift from Dwight H. Terry of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and in 1923 inaugurated lectures on “Religion in the Light of Science and Philosophy.” It is administered by the Yale Office of the Secretary.

Research and Outreach

The Yale Divinity School is part of a research university committed to transmitting and producing knowledge in ways that serve both students and alumni. At the Divinity School, with its emphasis on having an impact on the larger world, these functions continue to expand and deepen.

Yale Center for Faith and Culture

The mission of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture is to promote the practice of faith in all spheres of life through theological research and leadership development. The center aims to contribute to the flourishing of individuals and communities by reconnecting faith and daily life.

Founded in 2003 by its present director, Miroslav Volf, the Henry B. Wright Professor of Theology at Yale Divinity School, the center seeks to engage major cultural issues from the perspective of faith, with groundbreaking research, leadership programs, and outreach. More information can be found at the center’s Web site, www.yale.edu/faith.

The center’s mission is currently pursued in three major areas.

God and Human Flourishing, headed by Professor Volf, is the center’s capstone project, framing and informing the research and engagements of the other programs while at the same time drawing on their research results. Its goal is to explore how faith in the God of Jesus Christ is related to human flourishing—to our ability to live (and think!) well as individuals and communities in today’s diverse and yet interconnected world.

Ethics and Spirituality in the Workplace aims to help people integrate the claims of their faith with the demands of their work, addressing complex ethical issues in the business world with both philosophical rigor and theological insight.

The Reconciliation Program, led by Joseph Cumming, is concerned with overcoming the current crisis in relations with the Muslim world, seeking to promote reconciliation between Muslims and Christians, and between Muslim nations and the West, drawing on the resources of the three Abrahamic faiths and the teachings and person of Jesus.

The Jonathan Edwards Center and Online Archive

Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758), Yale graduate, pastor, revivalist, philosopher, missionary, and college president, is the subject of intense interest because of his significance as an historical figure and the profound legacy he left on America’s religious and intellectual landscapes. The mission of the Jonathan Edwards Online Archive is to produce a comprehensive database of Edwards’s writings (www.edwards.yale.edu) that will serve the needs of researchers and readers of Edwards. The Online Archive also serves to support inquiry into his life, writings, and legacy by providing resources and assistance, and to encourage critical appraisal of the religious importance and contemporary relevance of America’s premier religious thinker. Simply put, no comparable digitized archive for an American historical figure has yet been envisioned.

The Edwards Online Archive is housed within the larger site of the Jonathan Edwards Center at Yale Divinity School, the most prestigious center for scholarship on Jonathan Edwards and related topics. Staff members assist numerous scholars of Edwards and American religion every year, offering them a half-century of expertise in working with the Edwards manuscripts, as well as guidance through the vast secondary literature. The center’s staff provides adaptable, authoritative resources and reference works to the many scholars, secondary school and college-level teachers, seminarians, pastors, churches, and interested members of the general public who approach Edwards from any number of different perspectives. Complementing the archive of primary texts are reference works, secondary works, chronologies, teaching tools, and audio, video, and visual sources. The center also encourages research and dialogue through publications, fellowships, lectures, workshops, and conferences.

The staff of the Jonathan Edwards Center consists of Harry S. Stout, Kenneth P. Minkema, and Adriaan Neele, assisted by a team of student editorial assistants. The office can be contacted by telephone (203.432.5340) or e-mail (worksje@yale.edu). The center also maintains a weekly blog: www.jonathanedwardscenter.blogspot.com.

The Initiative on Religion and Politics at Yale

The initiative seeks to foster thoughtful activism, enrich scholarly discourse, and deepen public conversation on the place of religion in public life, nationally and internationally. It is guided by a coordinating committee of faculty and students from a variety of disciplines and religious affiliations, and draws on the talents of local religious and community leaders, scholars from across the University, and their counterparts near and far.

The initiative aims to enliven students’ “social imagination” – their appreciation of the political dynamics of religious life and the religious dynamics of public life—and to equip them for a lifetime of service as progressive religious leaders rooted in a prophetic tradition. The initiative is also committed to creating an intellectual space in which scholars can pay sustained attention to the complex interaction of religion and politics in contemporary societies and can articulate the ways in which theological discourses are relevant to contemporary social and political concerns. A third aim is to speak forcefully in the public sphere about the social and political issues of the day.

The initiative is not partisan, in the sense of being aligned with any political party, organization, or platform. It does, however, recognize the profound power of politics—broadly conceived as the processes by which societies govern themselves, allocate goods and services, formulate public policies, and pursue the common good—to both help and harm. Thus the initiative aims to be a prophetic voice in the public square, directly addressing concerns of inequality and injustice in the many areas of common life where religion and politics meet.

The initiative can be found online at www.yale.edu/religionandpolitics.

Initiative on Religion, Science, and Technology

The mission of the Divinity School’s Initiative in Religion, Science, and Technology (IRST) is to engage the Yale community in interdisciplinary consideration of the ways religion and spirituality encounter and interact with science and technology, with special emphasis on the theological, spiritual, philosophical, ethical, and scientific implications of those encounters. IRST reaches beyond the Divinity School, inviting participation from students, faculty, and staff across the University and surrounding community. Participants come from Yale’s cognitive sciences, natural sciences, medicine and related health sciences, forestry and environmental studies, history of science, astronomy and physics, anthropology, applied technology, religious studies, philosophy, the arts, and the undergraduate colleges.

IRST identifies and facilitates access to existing University science-religion resources, and sponsors or co-sponsors a broad range of programming including weekly working groups, public lectures, course offerings, conferences and symposia, Web-based resources, and connections with external centers of science-religion studies. Directed by Professors Denys Turner and Willis Jenkins, its programming is coordinated by James Clement van Pelt. IRST is an initiative of the Divinity School co-funded by the Metanexus Institute, with material support from the Institute of Sacred Music. For event schedules and more information, see www.yale.edu/religionandscience.

Middle Passage Conversations Initiative on Black Religion in the African Diaspora

The initiative develops resources for local black religious communities seeking to engage the public issues of the day such as education, military conflicts, racism, sexism, classism, and the environment through the moral and social resources found within these communities to help create a more just and pluralistic society and world through conversation and building networks that enhance public ministry. In addition, the initiative will explore issues of pedagogy in relation to the academic study of black religion in university-based programs from an interdisciplinary methodology. Using the successfully interdisciplinary conference that launched the initiative in April 2008, over time the initiative will coordinate conferences and consultations that are national and international focusing on the academy, religious communities and practitioners, and the interrelationship between the academy and religious communities to explore the ways in which black religious communities have served as conduits for meaningful social change and the ways in which these communities can continue to serve as networks of advocacy in the public realm. In addition to the preceding, the initiative will develop a robust interreligious dialogue, network, and encourage international, interreligious relationships among African American scholars, clergy, and laity that focuses on African-based religions, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.

Yale University Resources

A Global University

In a speech entitled “The Global University,” Yale President Richard C. Levin declared that as Yale enters its fourth century, its goal is to become a truly global university — educating leaders and advancing the frontiers of knowledge not simply for the United States, but for the entire world.

The globalization of the University is in part an evolutionary development. Yale has drawn students from outside the United States for nearly two centuries, and international issues have been represented in its curriculum for the past hundred years and more. But creating the global university is also a revolutionary development—signaling distinct changes in the substance of teaching and research, the demographic characteristics of students, the scope and breadth of external collaborations, and the engagement of the University with new audiences.

Yale University’s goals and strategies for internationalization are described in “The Internationalization of Yale: The Emerging Framework,” a document that embraces the activity of all parts of the University. The report is available online at www.world.yale.edu/pdf/Internationalization_of_Yale.pdf.

International activity is focused and coordinated in several University organizations.

Inaugurated in 2003–2004, the Office of International Affairs serves as an administrative resource to support the international activities of all schools, departments, offices, centers, and organizations at Yale; to promote Yale and its faculty to international audiences; and to increase the visibility of Yale’s international activities around the globe. Web site: www.yale.edu/oia.

The Whitney and Betty MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies is the University’s principal agency for encouraging and coordinating teaching and research on international affairs, societies, and cultures; www.yale.edu/macmillan.

Yale Center for the Study of Globalization draws on the rich intellectual resources of the Yale community, scholars from other universities, and experts from around the world to support teaching and research on the many facets of globalization, while helping to enrich debate through workshops, conferences, and public programs; www.ycsg.yale.edu.

Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS); www.oiss.yale.edu. See the description below.

Yale World Fellows Program hosts twelve to eighteen Fellows from outside the United States each year for a term of concentrated study and close contact on the Yale campus; www.yale.edu/worldfellows.

For additional information, the “Yale and the World” Web site is a compilation of resources for international students, scholars, and other Yale affiliates interested in the University’s global initiatives: http://world.yale.edu.

Health Services for Divinity School Students

Yale University Health Services (YUHS) is located on campus at 17 Hillhouse Avenue. YUHS offers a wide variety of health care services for students and other members of the Yale community. Services include student medicine, gynecology, mental health, pediatrics, pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, a twenty-three-bed inpatient care facility (ICF), a round-the-clock urgent care clinic, and such specialty services as allergy, dermatology, orthopedics, and a travel clinic. YUHS also includes the Yale Health Plan (YHP), a health coverage option that coordinates and provides payment for the services outlined above, as well as for emergency treatment, off-site specialty services, inpatient hospital care, and other ancillary services. YUHS’s services are detailed in the YHP Student Handbook, available through the YHP Member Services Department, 203.432.0246, or on the YHP Web site at www.yale.edu/

Eligibility for Services

All full-time Yale degree-candidate students who are paying at least half tuition are enrolled automatically for YHP Basic Coverage. YHP Basic Coverage is offered at no charge and includes preventive health and medical services in the departments of Student Medicine, Internal Medicine, Gynecology, Health Education, and Mental Health & Counseling. In addition, treatment for urgent medical problems can be obtained twenty-four hours a day through Urgent Care.

Students on leave of absence or on extended study and paying less than half tuition are not eligible for YHP Basic Coverage but may enroll in YHP Student Affiliate Coverage. Students enrolled in the Division of Special Registration as nondegree special students or visiting scholars are not eligible for YHP Basic Coverage but may enroll in the YHP Billed Associates Plan and pay a monthly premium. Associates must register for a minimum of one term within the first thirty days of affiliation with the University.

Students not eligible for YHP Basic Coverage may also use the services on a fee-for-service basis. Students who wish to be seen fee-for-service must register with the YHP Member Services Department. Enrollment applications for the YHP Student Affiliate Coverage, Billed Associates Plan, or Fee-for-Service Program are available from the YHP Member Services Department.

All students are welcome to use specialty and ancillary services at YUHS. Upon referral, YHP will cover the cost of these services if the student is a member of YHP Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage (see below). If the student has an alternate insurance plan, YHP will assist in submitting the claims for specialty and ancillary services to the other plan and will bill through the Office of Student Financial Services for noncovered charges and services.

Health Coverage Enrollment

The University also requires all students eligible for YHP Basic Coverage to have adequate hospital insurance coverage. Students may choose YHP Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage or elect to waive the plan if they have other hospitalization coverage, such as coverage through a spouse or parent. The waiver must be renewed annually, and it is the student’s responsibility to confirm receipt of the waiver form by the University’s deadlines noted below.

YHP HOSPITALIZATION/SPECIALTY COVERAGE

For a detailed explanation of this plan, see the YHP Student Handbook, which is available online at www.yale.edu/yhp/pdf/studenthb.pdf.

Students are automatically enrolled and charged a fee each term on their Student Financial Services bill for YHP Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage. Students with no break in coverage who are enrolled during both the fall and spring terms are billed each term and are covered from September 1 through August 31. For students entering Yale for the first time, readmitted students, and students returning from a leave of absence who have not been covered during their leave, YHP Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage begins on the day the dormitories officially open. A student who is enrolled for the fall term only is covered for services through January 31; a student enrolled for the spring term only is covered for services through August 31.

Waiving the YHP Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage Students are permitted to waive YHP Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage by completing a waiver form that demonstrates proof of alternate coverage. Waiver forms are available from the YHP Member Services Department. It is the student’s responsibility to report any changes in alternate insurance coverage to the YHP Member Services Department. Students are encouraged to review their present coverage and compare its benefits to those available under the YHP. The waiver form must be filed annually and must be received by September 15 for the full year or fall term or by January 31 for the spring term only.

Revoking the waiver Students who waive YHP Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage but later wish to be covered must complete and send a form voiding their waiver to the YHP Member Services Department by September 15 for the full year or fall term, or by January 31 for the spring term only. Students who wish to revoke their waiver during the term may do so, provided they show proof of loss of the alternate insurance plan and enroll within thirty days of the loss of this coverage. YHP premiums will not be prorated.

YHP STUDENT TWO-PERSON AND FAMILY PLANS

A student may enroll his or her lawfully married spouse or same-gender domestic partner and/or legally dependent child(ren) under the age of nineteen in one of two student dependent plans: the Two-Person Plan or the Student Family Plan. These plans include services described in both the YHP Basic Coverage and the YHP Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage. YHP Prescription Plus Coverage may be added at an additional cost. Coverage is not automatic and enrollment is by application. Applications are available from the YHP Member Services Department or can be downloaded from the YUHS Web site (www.yale.edu/yhp) and must be renewed annually. Applications must be received by September 15 for full-year or fall-term coverage, or by January 31 for spring-term coverage only.

YHP STUDENT AFFILIATE COVERAGE

Students on leave of absence or extended study, students paying less than half tuition, or students enrolled in the Eli Whitney Program prior to September 2007 may enroll in YHP Student Affiliate Coverage, which includes services described in both the YHP Basic and the YHP Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage. Prescription Plus Coverage may also be added for an additional cost. Applications are available from the YHP Member Services Department or can be downloaded from the YUHS Web site (www.yale.edu/yhp) and must be received by September 15 for full-year or fall-term coverage, or by January 31 for spring-term coverage only.

YHP PRESCRIPTION PLUS COVERAGE

This plan has been designed for Yale students who purchase YHP Hospitalization/ Specialty Coverage and student dependents who are enrolled in either the Two-Person Plan, the Student Family Plan, or Student Affiliate Coverage. YHP Prescription Plus Coverage provides protection for some types of medical expenses not covered under YHP Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage. Students are billed for this plan and may waive this coverage. The waiver form must be filed annually and must be received by September 15 for the full year or fall term or by January 31 for the spring term only. For a detailed explanation, please refer to the YHP Student Handbook.

Eligibility Changes

Withdrawal A student who withdraws from the University during the first ten days of the term will be refunded the premium paid for YHP Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage and/or YHP Prescription Plus Coverage. The student will not be eligible for any YHP benefits, and the student’s YHP membership will be terminated retroactive to the beginning of the term. The medical record will be reviewed, and any services rendered and/or claims paid will be billed to the student on a fee-for-service basis. At all other times, a student who withdraws from the University will be covered by YHP for thirty days following the date of withdrawal or to the last day of the term, whichever comes first. Premiums will not be prorated or refunded. Students who withdraw are not eligible to enroll in YHP Student Affiliate Coverage.

Leaves of absence Students who are granted a leave of absence are eligible to purchase YHP Student Affiliate Coverage during the term(s) of the leave. If the leave occurs during the term, YHP Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage will end on the date the leave is granted and students may enroll in YHP Student Affiliate Coverage. Students must enroll in Affiliate Coverage prior to the beginning of the term during which the leave is taken or within thirty days of the start of the leave. Premiums paid for YHP Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage will be applied toward the cost of Affiliate Coverage. Coverage is not automatic and enrollment forms are available at the YHP Member Services Department or can be downloaded from the YUHS Web site (www.yale.edu/yhp). Premiums will not be prorated or refunded.

Extended study or reduced tuition Students who are granted extended study status or pay less than half tuition are not eligible for YHP Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage and YHP Prescription Plus Coverage. They may purchase YHP Student Affiliate Coverage during the term(s) of extended study. This plan includes services described in both the YHP Basic and the YHP Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage. Coverage is not automatic and enrollment forms are available at the YHP Member Services Department or can be downloaded from the YUHS Web site (www.yale.edu/yhp). Students must complete an enrollment application for the plan prior to September 15 for the full year or fall term, or by January 31 for the spring term only.

For a full description of the services and benefits provided by YHP, please refer to the YHP Student Handbook, available from the YHP Member Services Department, 203.432.0246, 17 Hillhouse Avenue, PO Box 208237, New Haven CT 06520-8237.

Required Immunizations

Measles (rubeola) and German measles (rubella) All students who were born after December 31, 1956, are required to provide proof of immunization against measles (rubeola) and German measles (rubella). Connecticut state law requires two doses of measles vaccine. The first dose must have been given after January 1, 1969, and after the student’s first birthday. The second dose must have been given after January 1, 1980. These doses must be at least 30 days apart. Connecticut state law requires proof of one dose of rubella vaccine administered after January 1, 1969, and after the student’s first birthday. The law applies to all students unless they present (a) a certificate from a physician stating that such immunization is contraindicated, (b) a statement that such immunization would be contrary to the student’s religious beliefs, or (c) documentation of a positive blood titer for measles and rubella.

Meningococcus (meningitis) All students living in on-campus housing must be vaccinated against meningococcal disease. The law went into effect in September 2002, meaning that all returning students who plan to live in University housing must be immunized or show proof of immunization within the last five years. Students who are not compliant with this law will not be permitted to register for classes or move into the dormitories for the fall term, 2008. Please note that the State of Connecticut does not require this vaccine for students who intend to reside off campus.

Note: Students who have not met these requirements prior to arrival at Yale University must receive the immunizations from YHP and will be charged accordingly.

University Housing Services

The Graduate Housing Department has dormitory and apartment units for a small number of graduate and professional students. The Graduate Dormitory Office provides dormitory rooms of varying sizes and prices for single occupancy only. The Graduate Apartments Office provides unfurnished apartments consisting of efficiencies and one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments for singles and families. Both offices are located in Helen Hadley Hall, a graduate dormitory at 420 Temple Street, and have office hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Applications for 2008–2009 are available as of April 1 online and can be submitted directly from the Web site (www.yale.edu/graduatehousing). For new students at the University, a copy of the letter of acceptance from Yale will need to be submitted to the address on the application form. The Web site is the venue for graduate housing information and includes procedures, facility descriptions, floor plans, and rates. For more dormitory information, contact grad.dorms@yale.edu, tel. 203.432.2167, fax 203.432. 4578. For more apartment information, contact grad.apts@yale.edu, tel. 203.432.8270, fax 203.432.4578.

The University’s Off-Campus Housing service, limited to current or incoming members of the Yale community, is located at Helen Hadley Hall, 420 Temple Street, and is open from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The listings may also be accessed from any computer at Yale at www.yale.edu/offcampushousing.

Resource Office on Disabilities

The Resource Office on Disabilities facilitates accommodations for undergraduate and graduate and professional school students with disabilities who register with and have appropriate documentation on file in the Resource Office. Early planning is critical. Documentation may be submitted to the Resource Office even though a specific accommodation request is not anticipated at the time of registration. It is recommended that matriculating students in need of disability-related accommodations at Yale University contact the Resource Office by June 30. Special requests for University housing need to be made in the housing application. Returning students must contact the Resource Office at the beginning of each term to arrange for course and exam accommodations.

The Resource Office also provides assistance to students with temporary disabilities. General informational inquiries are welcome from students and members of the Yale community and from the public. The mailing address is Resource Office on Disabilities, Yale University, PO Box 208305, New Haven CT 06520-8305. The Resource Office is located in William L. Harkness Hall (WLH), Rooms 102 and 103. Access to the Resource Office is through the Cross Campus entrance to WLH. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Voice callers may reach staff at 203.432.2324; TTY/TDD callers at 203.432.8250. The Resource Office may also be reached by e-mail (judith.york@yale.edu) or through its Web site (www.yale.edu/rod).

Office of International Students and Scholars

The Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) coordinates services and support to Yale’s international students, faculty, staff, and their dependents. OISS assists members of the Yale international community with all matters of special concern to them and serves as a source of referral to other university offices and departments. OISS staff provide assistance with employment, immigration, personal and cultural adjustment, and family and financial matters, as well as serve as a source of general information about living at Yale and in New Haven. In addition, as Yale University’s representative for immigration concerns, OISS provides information and assistance to students, staff, and faculty on how to obtain and maintain legal status in the United States, issues the visa documents needed to request entry into the U.S. under Yale’s immigration sponsorship, and processes requests for extensions of authorized periods of stay, school transfers, and employment authorization. All international students and scholars must register with OISS as soon as they arrive at Yale, at which time OISS will provide information about orientation activities for newly arrived students, scholars, and family members. OISS programs, like the international coffee hours, Community Friends hosting program, daily English conversation groups and conversation partners program, U.S. culture workshops, and receptions for newly arrived graduate students, postdocs, and visiting scholars, provide an opportunity to meet members of Yale’s international community and become acquainted with the many resources of Yale University and New Haven. OISS welcomes volunteers from the Yale community to serve as hosts and as English conversation partners. Interested individuals should contact OISS at 203.432.2305.

OISS maintains an extensive Web site (www.oiss.yale.edu) with useful information for students and scholars prior to and upon arrival in New Haven. As U.S. immigration regulations are complex and change rather frequently, we urge international students and scholars to visit the office and check the Web site for the most recent updates.

International students, scholars, and their families and partners can connect with OISS and the international community at Yale by subscribing to the following e-mail lists. OISS-L is the OISS electronic newsletter for Yale’s international community. YaleInternational E-Group is an interactive list through which over 3,000 international students and scholars connect to find roommates, rent apartments, sell cars and household goods, find companions, and keep each other informed about events in the area. Spouses and partners of international students and scholars will want to get involved with the organization called International Spouses and Partners at Yale (ISPY), which organizes a variety of programs for the spouse and partner community. The ISPY E-Group is an interactive list of over 300 members to connect spouses, partners, and families at Yale. To subscribe to any list, send a message to oiss@yale.edu.

Housed in the International Center for Yale Students and Scholars at 421 Temple Street, the Office of International Students and Scholars is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Tuesday, when the office is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; tel. 203.432.2305.

International Center for Yale Students and Scholars

The International Center for Yale Students and Scholars, located at 421 Temple Street, across the street from Helen Hadley Hall, offers a central location for programs that both support the international community and promote cross-cultural understanding on campus. The center, home to OISS, provides a welcoming venue for students and scholars who want to peruse resource materials, check their e-mail, and meet up with a friend or colleague. Open until 9 p.m. on weekdays, the center also provides office and meeting space for student groups, and a space for events organized by both student groups and University departments. In addition, the center has nine library carrels that can be reserved by academic departments for short-term international visitors. For more information about the International Center, call 432.2305 or visit the center at 421 Temple Street.

Cultural Resources and Athletic Facilities

Two sources of information about the broad range of events at the University are the Yale Bulletin & Calendar (YB&C), a newspaper printed weekly during the academic year, and the Yale Calendar of Events, an interactive calendar that can be found online at http://events.yale.edu/opa. The YB&C, which also features news about Yale people and programs, is available without charge at many locations throughout the campus and is sent via U.S. mail to subscribers; for more information, call 203.432.1316. The paper is also available online at www.yale.edu/opa/yb&c.

The Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History contains collections in anthropology, mineralogy, oceanography, paleontology, and some aspects of geology.

The Yale University Art Gallery is known worldwide for its collections of American art, the Jarves Collection of early Italian paintings, the finds excavated at the ancient Roman city of Dura-Europos, the Société Anonyme Collection of early-twentieth-century European and American art, and most recently the Charles B. Benenson Collection of African art. The gallery is both a collecting and an educational institution, and all activities are aimed at providing an invaluable resource and experience for the Yale and New Haven communities. Admission is free, and the gallery is open to the public six days a week.

The Yale Center for British Art houses an extraordinary collection of British paintings, sculpture, drawings, and books given to the University by the late Paul Mellon, Yale Class of 1929.

There are more than eighty endowed lecture series held at Yale each year on subjects ranging from anatomy to theology, and including virtually all disciplines.

More than four hundred musical events take place at the University during the academic year. These include concerts presented by students and faculty of the School of Music, the Department of Music, the Yale Concert and Jazz bands, the Yale Glee Club, the Yale Symphony Orchestra, and other undergraduate singing and instrumental groups. In addition to graduate recitals and ensemble performances, the School of Music features the Philharmonia Orchestra of Yale, the Chamber Music Society at Yale, the Duke Ellington Series, the Horowitz Piano Series, New Music New Haven, Yale Opera performances and public master classes, and the Faculty Artist Series. The Institute of Sacred Music sponsors Great Organ Music at Yale, the Yale Camerata, the Yale Schola Cantorum, and numerous special events.

For theatergoers, Yale and New Haven offer a wide range of dramatic productions at the University Theatre, Yale Repertory Theatre, Yale Cabaret, Long Wharf Theatre, Palace Theater, and Shubert Performing Arts Center.

The Payne Whitney Gymnasium is one of the most elaborate and extensive indoor athletic facilities in the world. This complex includes the 3,100-seat John J. Lee Amphitheater, the site for many indoor varsity sports contests; the Robert J. H. Kiphuth Exhibition Pool; the Brady Squash Center, a world-class facility with fifteen international-style courts; the Adrian C. Israel Fitness Center, a state-of-the-art exercise and weight-training complex; the Brooks-Dwyer Varsity Strength and Conditioning Center; the Colonel William K. Lanman, Jr. Center, a 30,ooo-square-foot space for recreational/intramural play and varsity team practice; the Greenberg Brothers Track, an eighth-mile indoor jogging track; and other rooms devoted to fencing, gymnastics, rowing, wrestling, martial arts, general exercise, and dance. Numerous physical education classes in dance (ballet, jazz, modern, and ballroom), martial arts, yoga and pilates, aerobic exercise, and sport skills are offered throughout the year. Yale undergraduates and graduate and professional school students may use the gym at no charge throughout the year. Academic term and summer memberships at reasonable fees are available for faculty, employees, postdoctoral and visiting fellows, alumni, and student spouses.

During the year various recreational opportunities are available at the David S. Ingalls Rink, the McNay Family Sailing Center in Branford, the Yale Outdoor Education Center in East Lyme, the Yale Tennis Complex, the Yale Polo and Equestrian Center, and the Golf Course at Yale. Students, faculty, employees, students’ spouses, and guests of the University may participate at each of these venues for a modest fee. Up-to-date information on hours and specific costs at all these recreational facilities can be obtained from the Sport and Recreation Office (203.432.1431). Please check the Yale Athletics Web site (http://yalebulldogs.collegesports.com) for more information concerning any of these recreational facilities and programs.

Approximately fifty-five club sports and outdoor activities come under the jurisdiction of the Office of Outdoor Education and Club Sports. Many of these activities are open to graduate and professional school students. Yale faculty, staff, and alumni, and nonaffiliated groups may use the Yale Outdoor Education Center (OEC). The center consists of two thousand acres in East Lyme, Connecticut, and includes overnight cabins and campsites, a pavilion and dining hall, and a waterfront area with a supervised swimming area, rowboats, canoes, and kayaks. Adjacent to the lake, a shaded picnic grove and gazebo are available to visitors. In another area of the property, hiking trails surround a wildlife marsh. The OEC season extends from the third weekend in June through Labor Day and September weekends. For more information, telephone 203.432.2492 or visit the Web page at http://yalebulldogs.collegesports.com (click on Sports Rec, then on Outdoor Education).

Throughout the year, Yale University graduate and professional school students have the opportunity to participate in numerous intramural sports activities. These seasonal, team-oriented activities include volleyball, soccer, and softball in the fall; basketball and volleyball in the winter; softball, soccer, and volleyball in the spring; and softball in the summer. With few exceptions, all academic-year graduate-professional student sports activities are scheduled on weekends, and most sports activities are open to competitive, recreational, and coeducational teams. More information is available from the Intramurals Office in Payne Whitney Gymnasium, 203.432.2487, or online at http://yalebulldogs.collegesports.com.

Standards and Requirements

Registration

Each student files, at the Office of the Registrar of the Divinity School by the date specified in the calendar, a schedule of study that has been approved by the faculty adviser. All students register online during the period stated in the academic calendar. Failure to turn in a registration form signed by the faculty adviser by the due date will result in a $50 late registration fee. There will be no charge for course changes made prior to the beginning of the second week of the term, but there will be a $10 fee for each course change made after online registration has ended.

The student’s program is subject to review by the Professional Studies Committee, with particular attention to the distribution of the courses among fields in the curriculum and to the relevance of the individual’s program for vocational objectives.

A student may not enter a course later than the final date of online registration as specified in the academic calendar without the permission of the faculty adviser and the instructor involved. Under no circumstances will students be enrolled in a course after the third week of classes.

Duly enrolled students who expect to continue their studies at the School during the next year are required to record that intention at the Office of the Registrar before April 1, in order to reserve a place in the School. Failure to do so will result in a fee of $25 imposed in September if the student enrolls.

Schedule of Study

The schedule of study at the School normally consists of twelve credit hours each term.

A student must take at least one-half of each term’s work with members of the Divinity School faculty. Courses given by other departments and schools of the University may be taken with approval of the faculty adviser, and with the permission of the instructor of the course. Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with and consider relevant courses offered elsewhere in the University. (For regulations governing interdisciplinary study, see Admissions.) Bus service is provided every twenty minutes from the Divinity School through the central campus to the School of Medicine.

Each course in the Divinity School normally carries three hours of credit unless otherwise stated. It is possible to arrange to take courses for more or fewer credit hours. This flexible system of credit permits students to concentrate their efforts or pursue special concerns when advantageous or advisable. Alteration of the announced number of credit hours requires permission of both the instructor and the faculty adviser.

Transfer of Credit

Applications for transfer of credit for work completed at another school may be made after a full term’s work at the Divinity School. Credits are transferred upon authorization by the dean of academic affairs, acting for the Professional Studies Committee. Normally transfer credit will be recorded as electives. After six credits have been transferred as electives, however, a maximum of six additional credits for the M.A.R. degree and eighteen additional credits for the M.Div. degree may become eligible for transfer to the appropriate areas. These credits will be included in the total hours required for an area, but not counted as fulfilling particular requirements within the area. Matriculated students must secure approval in advance for courses they wish to take elsewhere if transfer credit is desired. No more than six hours of credit can be earned each year through summer study.

To be eligible for transfer toward a Yale Divinity School degree a course completed at another school must meet the following requirements:

1. The course must have been taken at an accredited institution.
2. The course must have been taken at the graduate or professional level.
3. The student must have completed a baccalaureate degree before taking the course.
4. The course should be clearly relevant to the student’s program at the Divinity School.
5. Normally the course must have been taken within the seven years prior to matriculation at the Divinity School.
6. Courses credited toward another master’s degree, either received or anticipated, are not normally transferred. Exceptions may be made for some of the courses credited toward a previous full two-year master’s degree.
7. No more than twelve hours will be transferred from a nontheological graduate program. If twelve hours are to be transferred, the student will be required to demonstrate to the Professional Studies Committee how the work previously completed is integral to the program of study pursued at Yale Divinity School.
8. Courses taken online cannot be transferred for Divinity School credit.
9. Intensive courses lasting one week or less cannot be transferred for Divinity School credit.
   

Integrity of Work

The learning environment at YDS is intended to be one of trust. Students are expected to adhere to academic conduct that honors this trust and respects the integrity of the academic community.

1. All written work must be the student’s own original work, except as consultation or collaboration or use of other resources is authorized by the instructor.
2. All material quoted or paraphrased from other sources must be fully identified, including, where relevant, both secondary and original sources. (Refer to Sources: Their Use and Acknowledgment, published by Dartmouth College, supplied to all entering students.) Plagiarism, whether intentional or inadvertent, is regarded as a serious offense and is subject to severe penalties, as set forth in the Academic Disciplinary Procedures, distributed annually. Cases of plagiarism, together with full documentation of the offense, may be referred to the Professional Studies Committee, which will conduct an investigation of the charges. As part of this investigation, the accused student will be invited to appear before the committee.
3. Similar written material may be submitted in more than one course only with the advance approval of all instructors involved.

Suspected violations of academic integrity should be reported to the dean of academic affairs. The procedures followed for dealing with allegations are published and available in the Dean’s Office.

The use of inclusive language is a matter of concern to the Divinity School community. Guidelines for gender inclusive and racially inclusive language are available to faculty and students.

Rights and Representation

Governance

The work of the School is carried on through the Governing Board (tenured faculty), the General Faculty, and the Standing Committees of the Faculty: Admissions and Financial Aid, Community Life, Curriculum, Ministerial Studies, Professional Studies, Spiritual Formation, and Worship. Each committee has an equal number of faculty and students. Faculty members of the committees are appointed by the dean and confirmed by the general faculty; student members are elected by the entire student body except for student members of the Standing Committee on Admissions and Financial Aid, who are chosen by the associate dean of admissions and financial aid.

Discipline

A Committee on Nonacademic Disciplinary Concerns and a Sexual Harassment Grievance Board are appointed by the dean. Printed statements of the membership and established procedures of these committees are available in the Office of the Dean. The Professional Studies Committee addresses issues of academic discipline, like plagiarism. (For information about the work of the committees, see Termination.)

Freedom of Expression

Each member of the School shall enjoy the rights of intellectual freedom which are fundamental to the University tradition. Freedom of expression is a necessary condition for exercising intellectual freedom. The purpose of maintaining free speech at Yale, as elsewhere, is to protect the expression of all views. To do so, the University must maintain a community with the requisite order, freedom of access to facilities, and impartiality toward all opinions for free expression.

Statement on Sexual Harassment

The faculty has established a grievance procedure for sexual harassment which authorizes the dean to appoint a grievance board. Specific policies and procedures adopted by the faculty guide the work of the Sexual Harassment Committee. The committee includes representatives of the administration and faculty and two students.

Sexual harassment is understood as an attempt to coerce an unwilling person into a sexual relationship, to subject a person to unwanted sexual attention, or to punish refusal to comply. A wide range of behavior is included in this definition, from actual coercing of sexual relations to the forcing of sexual attentions, verbal or physical, on a nonconsenting person.

The EEOC guidelines and Yale policy distinguish between two types of harassment: quid pro quo and hostile environment harassment. Quid pro quo occurs when a job or job benefit is directly linked to a subordinate or co-worker’s acceptance of a sexual behavior or demand. Hostile environment harassment is unwelcome on-the-job or in-school conduct of a sexual nature that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or learning environment and has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with the victim’s work. Hostile environment sexual harassment can include sexual advances, repeated taunts regarding sexual preferences, taunting jokes directed at a person or persons by reason of their sex, obscene posters, and sexual favoritism in work assignments. Conduct may be considered hostile environment harassment if it results in students not feeling comfortable being present in certain areas of the school or campus for fear of being alone with someone who constantly makes remarks or other advances of a sexual nature. Isolated or stray remarks usually do not by themselves create a hostile work environment.

Sexual harassment may consist of physical and/or verbal behavior. Examples of actions that under certain conditions and in certain contexts may be considered sexual harassment include unwanted sexual advances; unwelcome touching of a person’s body; repeated, unwelcome, obscene remarks of a sexual nature; display of obscene objects, photographs, posters, or cartoons; implied or overt threats; punitive grading or employment actions as a result of rejection of sexual advances; or sexual assault.

With respect to teacher-student relationships, the Office of the Provost at Yale University says on page 106 of the 1993 Faculty Handbook: “Because of the special trust and the inequality of status inherent in the teacher-student relationship, sexual relations between a teacher and his or her student, even when apparently founded on mutual consent, are potentially coercive and may be so regarded if a complaint of sexual harassment arises.”

In the academic context, where freedom of expression is a paramount value, there can be a fine line between that speech that is permissible and speech that constitutes sexual harassment. The determination depends on the facts of the particular case. It is difficult to describe the varied circumstances that can be seen as sexual harassment. In some instances sexual harassment is obvious and may involve an overt action, a threat, or a reprisal. In other instances sexual harassment is subtle and indirect, with a coercive aspect that is unstated. In still others, behavior may be inadvertently inappropriate or coercive or it may result from a lack of awareness or from a misunderstanding. Individuals may feel pressured in a variety of perplexing situations, or find themselves the recipients of unwanted attention, or may be unsure whether or not something they experience is appropriately considered sexual harassment. In circumstances like these, individuals are encouraged to discuss the matter with a member of the Sexual Harassment Committee or a dean. Sexual harassment incidents are treated in the same way by Yale whether they occur on or off campus.

Each fall students, faculty, and staff receive a list of members of the Sexual Harassment Committee for the academic year. The full text of the “Statement on Sexual Harassment” approved by the Yale Divinity School faculty is provided as an appendix to the YDS Student Handbook; it is also available at www.yale.edu/divinity/sl/shp.htm.

Grading System

The Divinity School uses the following grading system:

Honors (H)	= Exemplary
Honors minus (H–)	= Excellent
High Pass plus (HP+)	= Very Good
High Pass (HP)	= Good
High Pass minus (HP–)	= Satisfactory
Pass (P)	= Acceptable
Fail (F)
Withdrew (W)

If H, HP, P were to be translated into a traditional grading system on the graduate level, Honors would represent a strong A and A+; Honors minus, A–; High Pass plus, B+; High Pass, B; High Pass minus, B–; Pass, C.

There is also a Credit/No Credit system. The Credit/No Credit option for a course may be chosen by the professor, in which case the entire class will be graded thus. Individual students in such a course may request the professor’s approval to take the course on the regular grading system. Conversely, a student taking a course graded on the regular grading system may request the professor’s approval to be graded Credit/No Credit. Requests for departures from the grading systems under which courses are taught must be made on a form supplied by the Registrar’s Office. Options are elected during the first two weeks of the term and the decision is irreversible.

In both grading systems the W is to be used only under extraordinary circumstances by permission of the dean of academic affairs in consultation with the Professional Studies Committee.

Academic Deficiencies

Warning

The Professional Studies Committee will review the academic performances of students and place them on warning if their record in any term shows a significant decline or reason for concern about the quality of their work, e.g., a course graded Pass (P) or Fail (F). Students placed on warning will be reviewed by the committee following the end of the term, and either removed from warning or placed on probation. The warning notation will not be placed on students’ transcripts. Both the student and the faculty adviser will be notified in writing of the warning.

Probation

The Professional Studies Committee will place on probation students whose academic work is unsatisfactory. In every case the committee will take into account the personal situation of the student, but the following record, accumulated during the course of any one term, will normally result in probation:

1. two courses graded Pass, or
2. two Incompletes, or
3. two Fs, or
4. any combination of inadequate or incomplete work in two or more courses.

Students are responsible for knowing at the end of a term whether or not they have completed each course satisfactorily. As information becomes available to the Professional Studies Committee, written notice of probation will be given both to the student and to the faculty adviser, and the notation will be placed on the transcript. Students on academic probation must observe the following conditions when they register for courses:

(a) during the term in which students are on academic probation they may not take more than twelve hours of course work, and

(b) they may not take any reading courses.

Students will be removed from probation when they have completed four courses under the following conditions:

(a) all work for each course must be completed by the end of its term, without extensions;

(b) the grade received in each course must be HP or better.

Any student who remains on academic probation for two consecutive terms may be recommended to the faculty for dismissal from the School.

Special Examinations and Extensions

Special examinations, at hours other than those regularly scheduled, will be given only under extraordinary circumstances. Except for unforeseen emergencies, the request for a special examination must be submitted two weeks before the date of the regular examination.

All work for the first term is due by the end of the term, unless the instructor specifies an earlier date. In exceptional circumstances, such as illness or family crisis, the instructor in the course may grant an extension of time into the second term, but no extension can be given beyond the fourth week of the second term. No work from the first term can be accepted by a faculty member after that date. A student may appeal to the Professional Studies Committee for an additional extension. Such an appeal must be made in writing before the end of the fourth week of the spring term on a form provided by the Registrar’s Office. Extensions will be considered by the committee only in exceptional circumstances, such as those indicated above. An Incomplete grade will automatically be recorded as Fail (F), unless a petition for an extension is filed by the end of the fourth week of the spring term.

All work for the second term is due by the end of the term, unless the instructor specifies an earlier date. In exceptional circumstances, such as illness or family crisis, the instructor may grant an extension of time during the summer, but no extension can be given beyond June 30. No work from the second term can be accepted by a faculty member after that date. A student may appeal to the Professional Studies Committee for an additional extension. Such an appeal must be made in writing before June 30 on a form provided by the Registrar’s Office. Extensions will be considered by the committee only in exceptional circumstances, such as those indicated above. An Incomplete grade will automatically be recorded as Fail (F), unless a petition is filed by June 30.

Leave of Absence

A student who wishes or needs to interrupt his or her study temporarily may request a leave of absence. There are three types of leave: personal, medical, and parental, all of which are described below. The general policies that apply to all types of leave are:

1. Leave of absence application forms are available by contacting the registrar’s office at the Divinity School.
2. All leaves of absence must be approved by the dean. Medical leaves also require the recommendation of a physician.
3. A student may be granted a leave of absence for one, two, or three terms. A student is not normally granted a leave of absence to take on a professional commitment.
4. A student on leave of absence may complete outstanding work in courses for which he or she has been granted extensions. He or she may not, however, fulfill any other degree requirements during the time on leave.
5. A student on leave of absence does not have to file a formal application for readmission. However, he or she must notify the registrar in writing of his or her intention to return at least eight weeks prior to the end of the approved leave. In addition, if the returning student wishes to be considered for financial aid, the student must submit appropriate financial aid applications to the Divinity School’s financial aid office to determine eligibility. For returns from medical leaves of absence, see the Medical Leave of Absence section.
6. A student on a leave of absence is not eligible for financial aid, including loans, or for the use of any University facilities normally available to registered students. A student is not eligible for coverage by Yale Health Plan (YHP) Basic or YHP Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage. Coverage terminates the day the leave is granted. In order to secure continuous coverage through YHP, a student must request enrollment in the YHP Affiliate Coverage and pay the premium prior to the beginning of the term for which the leave is taken. If a leave of absence is granted during the term, the student must request YHP Affiliate Coverage enrollment within thirty days of the date the leave is granted. Applications are available from the YHP Member Services Department, 17 Hillhouse Ave. (203.432.0246), or can be downloaded from the YUHS Web site (www.yale.edu/uhs).
7. A student on leave of absence who does not return at the end of an approved leave, and does not request and receive an extension by the dean, is automatically dismissed from the Divinity School.

Personal Leave of Absence

A student who is current with his or her degree requirements and wishes to interrupt study temporarily because of personal exigencies may request a personal leave of absence. The general policies governing leaves of absence are described above. A student is eligible for a personal leave after satisfactory completion of at least one term of study. Personal leaves cannot be granted retroactively, and normally are not approved after the tenth day of a term.

To request a personal leave of absence, a student must complete the form available in the registrar’s office before the beginning of the term for which the leave is requested, explaining the reasons for the proposed leave and stating both the proposed start and end dates of the leave, and the address at which the student can be reached during the period of the leave.

If the dean approves, the leave is granted. In any case, the student is informed in writing of the action taken. A student who does not apply for a personal leave of absence, or who applies for a leave but is not granted one, and who does not register for any term, is considered to have withdrawn from the Divinity School. Refer to general policy section regarding health coverage.

Medical Leave of Absence

A student who must interrupt study temporarily because of illness or injury may be granted a medical leave of absence with the approval of the dean, on the written recommendation of a physician. The final decision concerning a request for a medical leave of absence is communicated in writing from the dean.

The Divinity School reserves the right to place a student on a medical leave of absence when, on the recommendation of the director of the University Health Services or the chief of the Division of Mental Hygiene, the dean of the Divinity School determines that the student is a danger to self or others because of a serious medical problem.

A student who is making satisfactory progress toward his or her degree requirements is eligible for a medical leave any time after matriculation. A student who is placed on medical leave during any term has his or her tuition adjusted according to the same schedule used for withdrawals. (See Tuition Rebate and Refund Policy.) Before re-registering, a student on medical leave must secure written permission to return from a physician at the University Health Services.

Refer to general policy section regarding health coverage.

Leave of Absence for Parental Responsibilities

A student who is making satisfactory progress toward his or her degree requirements and wishes or needs to interrupt his or her study temporarily for reasons of pregnancy, maternity, or paternity care, may be granted a leave of absence for parental responsibilities. Any student planning to have or care for a child is encouraged to meet with the dean to discuss leaves and other short-term arrangements. For many students short-term arrangements, rather than a leave of absence, are possible. The general policies governing all leaves are described above, including health coverage. A student who is making satisfactory progress toward his or her degree requirements is eligible for parental leave of absence any time after matriculation.

Students living in University housing units are encouraged to review their housing contract and the related polices of the Graduate Housing Office before applying to the Divinity School for a parental leave of absence. Students granted a parental leave may continue to reside in University housing to the end of the academic term for which the leave was first granted, but no longer.

Readmission Policy

Up to twenty-eight months after taking a medical leave or withdrawing from school, a person may apply for readmission through the Professional Studies Committee. An application for readmission may be obtained from the Registrar’s Office, 409 Prospect Street, New Haven CT 06511. After twenty-eight months, a person must apply for readmission through the Admissions Committee. Application forms may be obtained from the Admissions Office, 409 Prospect St., New Haven CT 06511.

Termination

A student’s relationship with the School may be terminated for the following reasons:

1. Failure to maintain a satisfactory academic record.
2. Lack of aptitude or personal fitness for the Christian ministry.
3. Behavior which violates generally acknowledged canons and standards of scholarship or professional practice.
4. Behavior which is disruptive to the educational process.
5. Possession or use of explosives or weapons on University property.

Disciplinary actions are initiated by the Professional Studies Committee, by the Sexual Harassment Committee, or by the Discipline Committee. The student concerned has the right to appear before the initiating committee. The decision to terminate the relationship of a student with the School is made by the general faculty on recommendation of one of these committees. The committees may also impose lesser penalties such as reprimand or probation.

The faculty reserves the right to withhold a degree from a candidate where there is compelling evidence of serious moral misconduct, or while disciplinary actions or criminal proceedings are pending.

Yale University Policy Statements

Equal Opportunity

The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and affirmatively seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons of diverse backgrounds. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, race, color, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era, or other covered veteran, or national or ethnic origin; nor does Yale discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

University policy is committed to affirmative action under law in employment of women, minority group members, individuals with disabilities, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam era, and other covered veterans.

Inquiries concerning these policies may be referred to the Office for Equal Opportunity Programs, 104 William L. Harkness Hall, 203.432.0849.

Statement on Security

In accordance with both federal and state law, the University maintains information concerning current security policies and procedures and prepares an annual crime report concerning crimes committed within the geographical limits of the University. Upon request to the Office of the Secretary of the University, PO Box 208230, New Haven CT 06520-8230, 203.432.2310, the University will provide such information to any applicant for admission.

Intercollegiate Athletic Programs

In accordance with federal law, the University prepares an annual report on participation rates, financial support, and other information regarding men’s and women’s intercollegiate athletic programs. Upon request to the Director of Athletics, PO Box 208216, New Haven CT 06520-8216, 203.432.1414, the University will provide its annual report to any student or prospective student.

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