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Yale Divinity School
409 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06515YDS Home>Student Life
Student Life
A Note from the Associate Dean for Student Affairs
Yale Divinity School is unique in combining university-based academic excellence and Christian ministry formation with a vibrant and nourishing community life. The offerings of Yale University and the city of New Haven combine with those of the Divinity School to create a rich environment in which to pursue graduate theological education. While many activities and organizations are in place year after year to provide for the community life of Divinity students, much of our common life is shaped anew each year by the particular needs and interests of the current student body. Everyone is encouraged to take the initiative in pursuing those groups and events they need to fulfill their calling at YDS. Student leaders, faculty, and administrators are excellent resources for making the initial connections within the Divinity School, Yale, and New Haven, to make something new happen.
Our common life is centered on two class-free hours per day. In the first hour, daily worship takes place in Marquand Chapel and is followed by coffee and doughnuts in the Common Room. In the second hour, lunchtime is given over to eating, attending meetings of student organizations, participating in special presentations open to the community, and socializing. Community dinners occur about once a month on a Friday evening and Friday Fellowship occurs every Friday afternoon over sodas and beer. Special events throughout the year include the BTFO (Before the Fall Orientation) for new students, the Advent Service and Christmas Party, the Easter Rejoicing worship service, the Spring Fling dance, and the All-School Conference. Regular participation in Yale intramurals provides opportunities for playing softball and soccer, just as Divinity students more informally gather for playing basketball and ultimate frisbee.
Students provide leadership for two organizations giving voice and activism to student life and interests. The Student Council is the elected representation of the student body, and includes three head officers as well as representatives of various committees and organizations on campus. The Student Council represents student concerns to faculty and staff and provides for student representation on official faculty committees. The Community Life Committee (CLC) is composed of students, faculty, and staff, and is headed by two student Coordinators. CLC provides for the general community life needs of the Divinity School and coordinates the programs of numerous student groups on campus. CLC-sponsored groups include the Women's Center, the Black Seminarians, the Divinity Latino/a Association, the Divinity Korean Association, the Coalition (of Gay, Lesbian, Straight, Bisexual, and Transgendered Students), the Commuter Student Community, the Yale Committee on Social Justice, the Outing Club, the Drama Club, TheoMed, the Evangelical Fellowship, and denominational groups for Lutherans, Baptists, Methodists, Catholics, United Church of Christ, and Presbyterians.
If you want more information about any of these regular or special components of our common life as Yale Divinity School, or if you want to pursue a particular interest not represented on campus already, please be in touch with me. I will do my best to connect you with others in the Divinity School or in the larger Yale and New Haven communities who share your passion and calling. Please know you may call on me as you have need or inclination for pursuing those concerns which can contribute to your overall well-being as a Divinity student. My best wishes to you if you are visiting this website as a prospective student that you may have wisdom and understanding in the process of discernment. My best wishes to you if you are visiting this website as a current student that you may know peace and confidence in your studies and commitments.
Pax Christi,
Dale Peterson
Dean of Students
Yale Divinity School
(pdf)
The Yale Divinity School Student Handbook contains information on a variety of topics such as
spiritual, academic, and social life at Yale and in New Haven, administrative and university contacts,
and usefule academic resources. The Handbook also contains important documents, including the
Marquand Chapel Worship Guidelines, the Statement on Inclusive Language, and official policies and
procedures regarding Plagiarism, Sexual Harassment, and Discipline.
The Yale Divinity School Student Handbook is given to entering students during Before the Fall
Orientation. To view the Handbook electronically, click on the link above.
The Community Life Commitee (CLC) is a Standing Committee of the General Faculty of the Divinity
School comprised of faculty members, administrators, and student representatives. Faculty members
and administrators are appointed by the Dean, with one serving as co-chair. The other co-chair is held
jointly by the student coordinators. Other students serving on the Committee include the Student
Council President and four elected members of the student body.
Under leadership of the co-chairs, the Committee is responsible for recognizing the student groups
that are members of the Student Council and for determining which campus groups will have paid
student coordinators.
The Student Council acts as a liaison between students and the Administration. Responsibilities include
working with the Dean on issues concerning students and the school as a whole, and publicly
addressing issues of concern or interest as they arise through Community Conversations and other
events.Elections for Student Council are held every spring for the following year. Elections for 1st
year student positions are held shortly after the beginning of the academic year.
The Q Source is a student-published YDS Newsletter. It includes notices, events, and concerns of the
community, as well as Divinity School classified advertisements. The Q Source is distributed weekly
in the common areas of YDS such as the Commuter Lounge, Common Room, and Refectory, and it
is also posted on the YDS website. This year's editor is Sarah Warren. To place an announcment in
the Q Source, e-mail her at sarah.warren@yale.edu. Notices must be received by 5 p.m. Friday for
the next week's issue.
Dear Theophilus, or "Dear Theo," is a weekly letter to Theophilus (i.e. the community). This letter
may be written by any member of the Yale Divinity School community and can cover just about
anything. Dear Theo provides the opportunity to raise concerns, reflections, opinions, or
celebrations related to YDS and our life together. Dear Theo allows for individuals to respond
to letters in subsequent publications, allowing for the development of dialogue. Click here to
view the guidelines for submitting a letter.
"Dale Mail" is the Divinity School's community announcement system, provided by the Office of
Student Affairs and run through the Classes V*2 server. Dale Mail announcements consist of
anything that a member of the YDS community deems relevant to the
academic/spiritual/community/social life of Yale Divinity School, ranging from announcements of
lectures and house churches to birthday parties and tag sales. To send a Dale Mail, e-mail your
message, exactly as you would like it to be worded, to dalemail@yale.edu.
The Yale Health Plan is located at 17 Hillhouse Ave. (between Grove Street and Trumbull Street).
YHP provides comprehensive medical services to Yale students, staff, faculty, and affiliates. This
includes general internal medicine, urgent care, and mental health and counseling services.
Catch up on the latest happenings around the University with the nation's oldest college daily
newspaper.
The Yale University Chaplain's Office has a mission to foster an understanding of and appreciation
for the diverse religious and spiritual life of the University community. The Office is located on Old
Campus in the lower level of Bingham Hall. The Chaplain is Sharon Kugler and she can be reached at
The Office of Parking and Transit is in charge of all University parking lots, including Lot 11 at the
Divinity School. This is also the place to find information, schedules, and maps for the Yale Shuttle,
as well as the rules for signing up to use one of Yale's fleet of Zipcars.
The Department of Security and Yale Police Department are responsible for the safety and security
of the Yale community. These departments combine to provide regular patrols, campus blue phones,
walking escort services, and the nighttime shuttle bus. Yale Police are the first responders to any
emergency on the Yale campus. For any emergency on or off campus, dial 911. To be in touch with
the Yale Police for routine matters, call 432-4400.
Many students help support themselves financially and become more involved in University life by
getting work-study jobs throughout the Yale campus. The Student Employment website offers
listings for on-campus and off-campus jobs. The site also lists temporary/one-time jobs for students
who are not looking for regular work. In addition, many part-time jobs at or related to the Divinity
School are announced via Dale Mail. For assistance with full-time jobs, please see YDS Director of
Career Services, Susan Olson (susan.olson@yale.edu)
The Office of International Students & Scholars (OISS) is responsible for the general welfare of
Yale's international students. OISS assists students in adjusting to life in the United States and serves
as a resource for immigration and legal matters.
The Graduate and Professional Student Center at Yale is Yale's only Graduate and Professional
Student bar. GPSCY is located at 204 York St. and features pool tables, a big screen tv, comfortable
lounge furniture, and nightly drink specials.
There is no reason for your time at Yale Divinity School to be limited to the Quad and the library. The city
of New Haven is abundant with resources and activities for people of all ages and interests. Visit one of its
beautiful parks or world-class museums, take in a concert or a play, or simply get out and explore its 370-
year history.
New Haven's official website provides information on day-to-day life in the Elm City (Community
Services, City Maps, Public Works and Trash Collection, Public Libraries, Voter Registration) as well
as fun activities like parks, restaurants, shopping, and museums.
For students with children, the decision to come to New Haven takes on even more importance.
Yale's Office of New Haven and State Affairs has a website dedicated specifically to resources for
parents: information on schools, child care, medical care, and activities.
Yale's Office of New Haven and State Affairs also offers resources for living off-campus. The
website posts apartment rental listings of area landlords, tenant information, and a database for
people in need of roommates. The site also provides profiles of New Haven neighborhoods.
The Long Wharf Theatre was founded in 1965 by two Yale alumni, Jon Jory and Harlan Kleiman.
Since then it has grown to become a world-class theatre company, often drawing notable Broadway
stars and serving as a proving ground for future Broadway plays. Student tickets are available for
$20 for all shows at the Long Wharf and there is also at least one performance of each play
throughout the season for which tickets are "Pay-What-You-Will." The Long Wharf Theatre is
located at 222 Sargent Drive, near the junction of I-95, I-91, and Route 34.
The Shubert Theatre, opened in 1914, is a 1600-seat theatre on College Street in the heart of
downtown New Haven. The Shubert features plays, musicals, concerts of all genres, and dance
performances.
Toad's Place, located on York Street, is a concert venue and nightclub with great historical
significance. Many up-and-coming acts have passed through Toad's on their way to superstardom,
including U2, Bruce Springsteen, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Because of this history, many of these
artists have chosen to return to Toad's Place, even after making it big. The Rolling Stones kicked off
their "Steel Wheels" tour there in 1989 and, in January of 1990, Bob Dylan started his tour with a 5-
hour show in New Haven.Today Toad's Place serves as a stopping point between New York and
Boston for many big names as well as a launchpad for Connecticut and New England-area bands.
Connecticut's official website has many important links for life in the Nutmeg State. You can find
information on the DMV, voting, state maps for driving and biking, and public transportation.
Visit CT!, the official Connecticut Vacation and Tourism Guide, offers all sorts of ideas for fun
activities around the state, whether you are interested in the outdoors, arts and culture, historical
landmarks, or family outings. The site also keeps a regularly updated list of things to do on the
weekend, as well as a monthly calendar of upcoming events.