Issue link: http://denverseminary.uberflip.com/i/1481010
41 Passing Comprehensive Exams A passing grade on the total exam is 80%, for general theological studies majors and 73%, for ministerial leadership and counseling majors. Each question on the exam must be 65% or above. If the grade on a question, and only one question, falls below 65% (even though the overall average on the exam is at a passing level) the student will be required to revisit that area and achieve a passing grade on that question within one month. If a student registers for comprehensive exams but does not show for the exam, this is counted as a failure. • Failure of First Attempt: Failing the first attempt for comprehensive examinations means failing the examination by not meeting the minimum grade as described above, including the rewrite within one month of the exam. • Failure of Second Attempt: Failing the second attempt for comprehensive examinations means failing the examination by not meeting the minimum grade as described above. If the student fails the exam a second time, the student will be allowed to re-take the full exam a third and final time but only after completing a minimum of two additional courses of academic work in the student's area of perceived weakness as determined by the Academic Dean and the division/department involved. • Failure of Third (Final) Attempt: After completing the additional courses of academic work (as described above) the student may re-take the full exam a third and final time. Should a student fail the full exam for a third time, they will not be allowed to graduate. If a student registers for comprehensive exams and withdraws after the add/drop date (see the Adding/Dropping Courses policy) they will be subject to the comprehensive exam drop fee. Appeal of a Comprehensive Exam Grade Students who wish to contest a grade on a comprehensive exam (or the process used to arrive at that grade) must do so within one year of receipt of that grade. Because the setting and the grading of a comprehensive exam are conducted by the department concerned rather than a single faculty member, the student should write an appeal and submit it to the Academic Dean. The appeal will be given to a committee composed of a faculty mediator (assigned by the Academic Dean) and a representative from Student Life, who will work towards mediation with the student. If the matter remains unresolved, the student may appeal directly to the Academic Dean (see the Student Handbook for submitting an appeal). MASTER OF DIVINITY SUMMATIVE EXPERIENCE Students have up to two attempts per semester to successfully complete the Master of Divinity Summative Experience. If unsuccessful after two attempts, students must wait until a subsequent semester to again register for the summative experience when they will have two additional attempts. This process may be continued until successful. The summative experience consists of a written paper followed by an oral interview related to the paper. Students must complete GS 500, CH 500, TH 501, and TH 502 before registering for the summative experience. Since this is a summative experience, students are also required to be in their final semester or have completed a minimum of seventy credit hours of their degree coursework before registering. If a student registers for the Master of Divinity Summative Experience and withdraws after the add/drop date (see Adding/Dropping Course policy) they will be subject to the Master of Divinity Summative Experience drop fee.