Westminster College was founded in 1852 by two presbyteries of the Associate Presbyterian Church. The first catalog stated that “no person will be refused admission on account of color, caste, or sex.” By admitting women and granting them degrees on the same basis as men, Westminster became one of the earliest coeducational colleges in the United States. The College has maintained a Presbyterian affiliation through two denominational mergers and is now related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) through the Synod of the Trinity. Westminster is governed by a board of trustees.
The mission of Westminster College is to help students develop competencies, commitments, and characteristics which have distinguished human beings at their best. The liberal arts tradition is the foundation of the curriculum continually designed to serve this mission in a rapidly changing world. The College sees the well-educated person as one whose skills are complemented by ever-developing values and ideals identified in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Westminster’s quest for excellence is a recognition that stewardship of life mandates the maximum possible development of each person’s capabilities.
The College thus realizes its mission in enabling students to:
The curriculum is designed as a means by which the College endeavors to fulfill its mission.
The College is accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a charter member of the Association. Its education certification programs have the approval of the Pennsylvania Department of Education and are designed to meet the standards of the Ohio Department of Education. Additionally, the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is designed to meet/exceed curricular and practical requirements for license eligibility in Pennsylvania. The College is a member of the American Council on Education, the Association of American Colleges and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.
The mission of Westminster College is to help men and women develop competencies, commitments and characteristics whichhave distinguished human beings at their best. The liberal arts tradition is the foundation of the curriculum and is designed to serve this mission in a rapidly changing world.
The College sees the well-educated person as one whose skills are complemented by ever-developing values and ideals identified in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Westminster’s quest for excellence is recognition that stewardship of life mandates the maximum possible development of each person’s capabilities.
The Graduate School was established at Westminster College in 1944. The first classes were offered during the summer of 1945, and the first degree was awarded in 1946. The program was instituted as a service to public school teachers within convenient driving distance of the College. At that time, no educational institution between Pittsburgh and Cleveland offered graduate work. There proved to be a demand, and by 1950 more than 100 graduate students were enrolled in a well-organized program approved by thePennsylvania Department of Public Instruction. Courses leading to the certification of guidance counselors were later approved. In 1959, the State Council of Education approved extending the Graduate School to include courses leading to provisional elementary and secondary principal certificates. Subsequent approval was granted to prepare superintendents.
Westminster provides the opportunity for a number of selected students to do advanced study and research leading to the degree of master of education, during both the regular academic year and the summer session. Programs are offered for the preparation of principals, superintendents, guidance counselors, and reading specialists K-12 combined with special education specialist PreK-8. A master’s degree in education is offered for elementary and secondary teachers.
Westminster offers curricula leading to the master of education degree and certification of an elementary-secondary counselor, principal, reading specialist, superintendent, special education, and special education with reading. A general education master’s degree is also available. Additionally, a master of arts in clinical mental health counseling is offered that includes three distinct areas of focus: youth, school, and adult counseling. Additionally, a master of business administration is offered with four programs tracks: general management, business analytics, health care management, and environmental/business sustainability.
Applicants must possess academic, personal, and professional qualities deemed acceptable by the Graduate Committee.
All applicants admitted to graduate study must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and a preferred undergraduate grade point average of 3.0. Students with an undergraduate GPA of less than 3.0 may be considered by the director. Requirements for admission include submitting a completed application for graduate study, professional references and a writing sample. An advanced graduate degree supersedes the undergraduate 3.0 GPA requirement.
An applicant who has a master’s degree or doctorate in education or in a teaching related field from an accredited college or university will be admitted on the basis of the advanced degree by filing the application for graduate study, and copies of all previous college or university transcripts.
The applicant is responsible for filing official undergraduate/graduate transcripts from all colleges/universities attended and an application for admission along with all other required documentation with The Graduate School, Westminster College, Thompson- Clark Hall, Room 208, 319 S. Market St., New Wilmington, PA 16172, no later than two weeks before registration.
From time to time, students are accepted to the program conditionally. Generally, this occurs when awaiting official transcripts, letters of reference or other documentation required to complete the application process and gain full acceptance to the Graduate School. Students accepted conditionally must meet all requirements for full admission to continue coursework.
Provisional graduate students are those who desire to become degree candidates, but do not have the minimum grade point average of 3.0. These students’ progress will be reviewed after the completion of two Westminster graduate courses. This review may result in a change of enrollment status to regular graduate student if the student earns a grade of “B” or higher in both graduate courses.
Continuing education students are students who disclaim any intention of becoming degree or certification candidates. An applicant for this type of admission must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education. Unsuccessful applicants for admission as regular graduate students cannot be considered.
Continuing education students may earn such graduate credit as their qualifications and performance warrant. A continuing education student not maintaining good academic standing automatically forfeits rights to take any additional graduate courses.
Continuing education students may take no more than four courses, and credit earned as a continuing education student cannot be applied toward a degree or certification either at the time the work is taken or at a later date. Continuing education student status will be noted on the official transcript.
For Current Westminster Undergraduate Students: Any Westminster undergraduate who, at the beginning of the final semester of undergraduate study, needs 12 or fewer semester hours to fulfill the requirements for the bachelor’s degree may, with the permission of the adviser and the director of the Graduate Program, take graduate courses. To take this option, students must apply for admission to graduate study through the Office of Graduate School. Courses completed at the graduate level may be credited toward a graduate degree and toward post-graduate teacher certification requirements, but no course may be counted for credit toward more than one degree. Applications are available from and should be submitted to the director of Graduate School.
To maintain degree candidacy in Westminster’s Graduate School, students must earn grades of “B” or higher in all graduate courses. The student also must have removed any entrance deficiencies
To change a program of a study, the student should contact the director of the Graduate School to develop a new plan of completion/ program.
The director of the Graduate School will review the student’s academic record, instructor evaluations, entrance assessments, and other relevant materials. The review also will be utilized in the advising process to enhance the student’s knowledge and skills.
For the Master of Education, Master of Arts, and MBA degrees, in addition to submitting a Practitioner Research Report at the end of all coursework, the M Ed students must complete at least 10 courses on the graduate level and the MA students must complete at least 20 courses on the graduate level with an average of “B” (3.0) or better, including no more than two courses with a grade of “C” or less.
Students are required to complete a culminating assignment prior to graduation. There are two options: a Comprehensive Examination or a Data-driven Research project. The Comprehensive Examination is an opportunity for the student to communicate to the faculty that he/she possesses the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for being successful in his/her respective field of study. Students will answer carefully selected questions related to their field in a formal written narrative that will be submitted to a panel of faculty experts for a pass or fail grade. Students who are completing Internships may prefer to complete the Data driven-Research project. This practitioner-based option allows the student to create an action research project, conduct the research at a field site, analyze the data, and report on the study’s results. Either option occurs at the end of each program track.
I - Incomplete this may be given in lieu of the letter grades. It is a temporary grade given when a student is unavoidably delayed in completing an academic course. Such academic work must be completed by the end of the next semester if the student remains in college. Students who are temporarily separated from the College must remove the incomplete within one year after the close of the semester in which the grade was given unless special permission is granted by the dean of the College. All incomplete grades not properly removed are changed to “F.”
W - Withdrawn. This grade may be recorded for withdrawal from a course by deadlines established by the Registrar, or later if the course record to date is passing and if withdrawal is necessitated by illness or other legitimate reasons. Granting of the “W” grade requires approval by the instructor, the adviser, the director of the Graduate School, and dean of the College.
M - Students who take a leave of absence for military related reasons will be readmitted with the same academic status as he or she had when last attending. The grade transcript will show an “M” or Military to indicate that the military member or his/ her spouse was unable to complete the course(s) because of military service. A grade of “M” is not counted in a student’s GPA
Central to the purpose and pursuit of any academic community is academic integrity. All members of the Westminster community,including students, faculty, staff, and administrators, are expected to maintain the highest standards of honesty and integrity, in keeping with the philosophy and mission of the College. Academic dishonesty is a profound violation of this code of behavior.Outlined below are examples of and specific consequences for academic dishonesty at Westminster. The list of examples is not meant to be exhaustive, but rather to provide an overview of the community’s common concerns. Students who are unsure as to whether specific behavior not listed here will constitute academic dishonesty should consult with their individual course instructors.
Violations of the Westminster College Academic Integrity Policy (AIP) include, but are not limited to, the following:
Derived from the Latin word for kidnapping, plagiarism is the theft of someone else’s ‘brainchild’ —that person’s language, ideas, or research—and the origin of the word conveys the seriousness of such offenses in the view of college teachers and administrators. The reason is that words, ideas, and research are the main forms of currency in academic life.” – Keith Hjortshoj, The Transition to College Writing (Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2001), 172.
If a course instructor suspects that a student has violated this policy, the instructor will speak with the student, review appropriate materials, and reach a conclusion. If the instructor determines that a violation has occurred, the following process will apply:
A student may not withdraw from a class in which he or she has been charged with violating the College’s Academic Integrity Policy, unless he or she successfully appeals the finding that a violation has occurred. Charges of violating this policy may be brought by an instructor against a student who is not enrolled in the class affected by the violation.
Any member of the Westminster community, including students, staff members, faculty members, and administrators, may bring a charge for a violation of the College’s Academic Integrity Policy. If someone other than a course instructor wishes to bring a charge, he or she can initiate the process by contacting the course instructor, a department chair, or the VPAA.
Copies of all materials pertaining to violations, penalties, and appeals will be kept in the Office of Academic Affairs. The VPAA will send to the Academic Standards Committee a monthly report on the number and nature of violations of the policy.
All work for the master’s degree, including credits accepted by transfer, must be completed within a period of seven calendar years unless a student takes a leave of absence. Written appeals for extension of the time limit will be considered by the Director of the Graduate School.
A student wishing to withdraw or transfer from the Graduate School should start the process by contacting the Graduate School.
When illness, injury, or a psychiatric disability occurs, a student or guardian may request, or the College may require, a medical withdrawal or medical leave of absence (MLOA) from the College. All medical withdrawals or leaves must be approved by the vice president for student affairs. Specific conditions to receive an MLOA or Medical Withdrawal, including the conditions for future re-admittance, are stipulated at the time of the withdrawal or granting of a leave of absence. These conditions may specify whatprofessional medical documentation is required for the withdrawal to be granted, and/or a period of time for a leave. Before the student will be permitted to return to campus, the College may require a professional evaluation or assessment (at the student’s expense) stating the professional expert’s opinion that the student is now capable of meeting the academic and the social standards of the College (which are stated in the Westminster Student Code of Conduct). Students who are granted an MLOA or Medical Withdrawal will be given a “W” (withdrawal) for all courses in which the student was enrolled at the time of the MLOA or Medical Withdrawal.
Refer to the information on “Involuntary Administrative Withdrawal” in the Undergraduate Student Handbook for additional information and grievance procedures related to a withdrawal that is not voluntarily initiated or accepted by the student.
Students wishing to return after a Leave of Absence should contact the Graduate School.
Students who take a leave of absence for service-related reasons will be readmitted with the same academic status as he or she had when last attending or being admitted to Westminster College.
State law requires college or university to grant a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard or other reserve component of the armed forces or the member’s spouse a military leave of absence from their education if he or she is called to active duty (other than active duty for training). The grade transcript for all classes shall show an “M” or “Military” to indicate that the military member or his/her spouse was unable to complete courses because of military service. A grade of “M” is not counted in a student’s GPA.
Graduate credit earned at other approved institutions may be accepted for transfer to Westminster College provided the credit has been completed within the six-year period established for the completion of all degree requirements. Acceptance of transfer credit either before or subsequent to admission to Westminster must have written approval by the director of the Graduate School. There must be prior approval to take transfer work while enrolled at Westminster. Work with a grade lower than a “B” will not be accepted. While transfer credits are accepted, more than half of coursework must be taken at Westminster.
Since each institution determines the conditions under which credits may be accepted, graduate students desiring to transfer Westminster credits to another institution should make previous arrangements with the institution concerned. Westminster cannot guarantee that its courses will be accepted for credit toward the master’s degree by any other college or university
The director of the Graduate School and the program coordinator for each curriculum will function as advisers and will assist in the planning of a program of studies. Each student is responsible for planning a program in keeping with all requirements for graduation and certification. It is the student’s responsibility to contact and confer with the adviser concerning questions regarding the program. Regular advising emails and notices are distributed.
Students matriculated in the program as listed in previous catalogs will follow, as far as possible, the new program as described herein. However, in individual cases where it would present a hardship, students may be permitted to continue under their former program. It should be noted that changes in state certification requirements take precedence over information in this catalog.
A graduate student who carries three or more courses per semester is considered a full-time student. Four courses are the maximum load which any graduate student will be permitted to carry. The normal load for a graduate student working full time is one or two courses. Students should allow ample time for library research, project work, and cooperative assignments when planning their schedules.
A limited number of auditors may be permitted in certain courses. Before auditing is permitted, approval of the director of the Graduate Program and the instructor of the course must be obtained.
Individuals holding a baccalaureate degree who wish to audit graduate courses but who have not previously taken work at Westminster College must make application for such auditing through the Office of Graduate School and Adult Studies. No credit or grades will be given to a student auditing a course. The fee for auditing is $415 per course.
Late registration for a course must be completed before the class meets for a second time. A graduate student who temporarily discontinues study must notify the director of the Graduate Program prior to registration in order to resume study. Graduate students will self-register for courses each term. Directions will be sent via email to students each term.
Withdrawing from a course, or from the program entirely, may have financial implications. The official withdrawal date is the key to determining the status of a withdrawal, and the impact on charges and financial aid. The official withdrawal date is determined and approved by the Graduate School Office. It is the responsibility of the student to notify the Graduate School Office of any intention to withdraw.
If a student withdraws from a class, but is still enrolled for the semester, the following chart indicates the financial implications. The student is responsible for notifying the Graduate Program Office in writing of their intention to continue
100% On-Line Course or Blended Course That is Primarily OnlineIf a student does not log in to an online class at all, or does not participate academically in the course (see below), the course would be considered dropped within the add/drop period, and there would be no fee for the course. Conversely, if it is demonstrated that the student academically participated in the course after the add/drop period, they would be responsible for the full course charges.
Rules for documenting academic participation are consistent with those prescribed under federal regulations for determining withdrawal from a course for federal financial aid purposes. Examples of academic participation are: submission of an assignment, submission of an exam, posting to an online study group or discussion forum, or contact with a faculty member to ask a question about the academic subject of the course.
There may be financial aid implications when dropping or withdrawing from a course if you are no longer enrolled half time. Please contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing.
The following is Westminster College’s policy regarding withdrawal from the program:
College fees are usually not returnable to students unless they withdraw from the College because of illness or reasons beyond their control. The date that the withdrawal is approved by the applicable College administrative office is considered the official date of withdrawal. Refunds, when allowed, will be calculated as follows:
A student taking a session course is considered to be withdrawn from the College under the following circumstances:
In the first instance, tuition and mandatory fees will be prorated based on the number of calendar days prior to the official withdrawal date related to the first session course, divided by the total number of calendar days for the first session course.
In the second instance, tuition and mandatory fees will be prorated based on the number of calendar days prior to the official withdrawal date divided by the total number of calendar days for the semester. No refunds will be given once the semester is 60% completed.
Students who withdraw from the first session course after the drop/add period, and provide written confirmation that they will attend the second session course, are considered to still be enrolled at the College. In this case, the student will be charged full tuition and mandatory fees for the first session course and no proration will be performed on Federal Title IV Financial Aid.
Other College fees, generally, are not prorated. An administrative fee of 5% of actual charges (up to $100) will be assessed against the student’s account. Generally, no refund will be made where the withdrawal is required because of misconduct.
If the withdrawing student has Federal Title IV Financial Aid, the Financial Aid Office is required by federal statute to recalculate eligibility for this aid.
If a student withdraws from a first session course after the drop/add date, and the student does not provide written confirmation that he/she will attend the second session course in the same semester, earned Federal Title IV Financial Aid will be calculated as follows: The number of calendar days prior to the official withdrawal date related to the first session course, divided by the total number of calendar days for the first session course.
If withdrawal occurs after the drop/add date of the second session course, earned Federal Title IV Financial Aid will be calculated as follows: The number of calendar days prior to the official withdrawal date related to both courses in the semester, dividedby the total number of calendar days for both courses in the semester. If the withdrawal occurs after the semester is 60% completed, the student is deemed to have earned 100% of the Title IV Aid.
Students who withdraw from the first session course after the drop/add period, and provide written confirmation that they will attend the second session course, are considered to still be enrolled at the College. In this case, the student will be charged full tuition and mandatory fees for the first session course and no proration will be performed on Federal Title IV Financial Aid.
The percentage of unearned aid (100% - the percentage of earned aid determined in the applicable formula above) is applied to the total amount of the Title IV aid that could have been disbursed for the semester to determine that amount of aid that must be returned to the federal financial aid programs.
From time to time, the full amount of Title IV aid for which the student is eligible has not been fully disbursed when the withdrawal calculation is being performed. In such a case, if the student earned less than the amount of Title IV aid that was disbursed, both the institution and the student would be required to return a portion of the funds. If the student earned more than the amount of Title IV aid that was disbursed, the institution would owe the student a post-withdrawal disbursement of aid within 120 days of the student’s withdrawal.
Unearned aid is allocated to the appropriate federal aid program in the following order and must be returned by the institution within 30 days after the determination of the date of the student’s withdrawal:
The formula that is used to calculate tuition will also be applied to Westminster College and other financial aid unless the source of the financial aid indicates another method of calculation is required.
Add/drop deadlines are published each semester by the registrar’s office and are enforced. Students are urged to keep these important dates in mind.
Degree seeking and certification only students are charged $1,665 per course.
Auditing fees are $415 per course.
Late Fees of $100 per occurrence will be assessed on any account with an outstanding balance on the following dates:
A carrying charge for late payment may be assessed.
Monthly statements will only be made available to students online through CASHNet. Students are able to provide online access to student account information for parents and others through this service. CASHNet may also be used to make payments on a student account as described below. Information about CASHNet can be obtained from the Business Office
Payment due dates on student account billings are as follows:
Fall Semester Bill: July 20, or if registered late, Friday before the first day of class
Spring Semester Bill: January 10
Summer Semester Bill: June 14
The College permits some additional time for loan proceeds, scholarships and payments to be posted before assessing late fees on student accounts. The application of the $100 late fee is assessed based on the following criteria:
Balance > $0 as of September 15 for fall
Balance > $0 as of February 1 for spring
Balance > $0 as of June 15 for summer
A late fee will not be assessed when there are scheduled travel course payments due after the “as of” date that determines assessment of late fees. However, a $100 late fee will be assessed if the payments are not made according to the payment schedule for the trip.
Interest at a rate of 12% per annum (1% per month) will be assessed on account balances outstanding at the end of the finals period, or upon the student’s separation from the College (graduation, withdrawal, leave of absence, suspension, expulsion, etc.), whichever is applicable. A courtesy letter will be sent approximately one week after the Business Office receiving notification of the separating event. Interest will then be assessed on the outstanding balance in the next billing period, approximately one month after the courtesy notification.
The Business Office accepts payments via cash, check, money order, and bank check at the window. All checks or money orders should be made payable to Westminster College. Credit card and ACH payments are accepted through CASHNet only. A teleprocessing fee will be charged on all credit card payments based on the amount charged. Wire transfer payments will be accepted on a limited basis on student accounts as approved by the Director of Student Financial Services.
For those who wish to pay their accounts in installments, arrangements are available through CASHNet only.
The Business Office reserves the right to require payment on certain student accounts via cash, bank check or money order only.
Student account balances that are not paid in full by the late fee date, or throughout the semester as additional charges are incurred, will be placed on financial hold. While on hold, the student will not be permitted to register.
The Business Office will notify those students whose balance is greater than zero of the consequences with respect to pre- registration. This notification will be sent via U.S. mail, e-mail and/or another method deemed appropriate.
Check payments >$1,000 that are presented within two weeks prior to a pre-registration or registration period may be subject to verification with the bank for sufficiency of funds. Payments on accounts where there have been previous returned items will be verified for sufficiency of funds. Holds will not be released on the latter accounts until such verification takes place.
The Business Office will make every effort to release students from financial hold in a timely manner once payment in full isreceived on an account and verified when applicable. The student, once released from hold, would be able to register at times determined by the Registrar’s Office.
A student who was permitted to register for the fall semester may choose to attend summer classes at Westminster. The due date to pay summer charges is June 14. If the summer charges (along with any other charges related to previous semester(s) are not paid in full by June 30, the fall registration will be canceled and the student will be unable to return to the College until the account balance is paid in full.
The Business Office will notify those students whose balance is greater than zero of the consequences of non-payment for the summer (and/or previous) term. This notification will be sent via U.S. mail, e-mail and/or another method deemed appropriate
If a student account has a balance greater than zero on the late fee date, or throughout the semester as additional charges are incurred, a financial hold will be placed on the account which prevents the student from receiving their transcripts and if graduating, their diploma. These holds will remain on the student account until the balance is paid in full.
Notification of the student account balance and the consequences with respect to transcripts and diploma will be sent to those students whose balance is greater than zero. This notification will be sent via U.S. mail, e-mail and/or another method deemed appropriate.
Check payments that are presented to release a transcript hold may be subject to verification with the bank for sufficiency of funds. Payments on accounts where there have been previous returned items will be verified for sufficiency of funds. Holds will not be released on the accounts until such verification takes place, and in the case of a transcript hold, the check clears the bank.
The Business Office will make every effort to release students from financial hold in a timely manner once payment in full isreceived on an account and verified or cleared, whichever is appropriate.
In addition to the above, students who are not registered and have unpaid prior balances will be unable to return to the dorms, participate in College activities, nor attend classes until the account balance is paid in full and the student is registered for classes. Please note that future financial aid cannot be used to cover balances from the previous semesters.
Payments of any type (check, ACH, credit card, wire) that are returned by the bank for any reason will be subject to a $15 fee. The fee will be applied to the student account, when possible, upon notification by the bank (on-line or otherwise) of the returned item. The Business Office will attempt to make contact with the issuer of the check to resolve the returned item.
If the returned item permitted the release of a hold on a student account, the hold will be reinstated and additional holds may be a dded as deemed appropriate under the circumstances. If a payment permitted the student to pre-register, the student will be notified of the returned payment and given 7 days to resolve the unpaid item. If there is no resolution, the registration will be canceled.
If the payment permitted registration for the semester currently underway, the student will be notified of the returned payment as soon as practicable and will no longer be permitted to attend class, nor participate in College related activities. A maximum of 7 days will be given to resolve the returned payment during the regular academic year, and a maximum of 3 days during the summer semester. The student will also be notified by the appropriate College offices of their status and next steps in accordance with procedures specified in the Handbook for Students, College catalogue and other institutional policies.
A prepayment hold requires that arrangements for full payment for a semester be in place prior to registration for that same semester. The following accounts will qualify for prepayment holds:
Outstanding balances remaining on a student account as of the last day of the finals period and/or upon separation from the College are subject to the following collection procedures:
If the internal collections process is unsuccessful, external collections agencies will be utilized to assist in collecting the outstanding balance. All collections fees will be added to the outstanding balance on the student account and will be the responsibility of the debtor. Generally, the account will be placed in first collections for approximately one year. If the effort is unsuccessful, the account will be returned to the College. The Business Office will make one attempt to reach the debtor prior to the account being entered into second collections. If that effort is unsuccessful, the account will be turned over to second and then to third collections for approximately one year each. The College reserves the right to continue collections efforts beyond third collections.
There are several sources of financial aid available to graduate students in the M. Ed. program.
The Joseph R. Henderson Scholarship, sponsored by Phi Delta Kappa, is available to a first-year graduate student. The scholarship, which is non-renewable, is $500 and is applicable to tuition only. Application forms and further information are available from the Office of Adult and Graduate Studies.
The M. Elaine Willson Memorial Scholarship ($1500) is available to a graduate student who has earned at least 15 credits toward a graduate degree and maintained a GPA of 3.5 in graduate study. Preference is given to graduate students with nursing backgrounds who have an interest in teaching, counseling or education related fields and have demonstrated financial need. Application forms and further information are available from the Graduate School office.
A number of educational loan programs are available to assist students in meeting their costs of attendance. A Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a Westminster College Application for Financial Aid must be on file before a student will be certified for a student loan. Only those students enrolled at least a half-time basis in a degree-granting program are eligible for educational student loans. “Provisional” or “Conditional” graduate students are not eligible for the Federal Direct Stafford Loan. Half-time enrollment is generally defined as taking a minimum of two graduate courses per semester. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for more complete details of minimum enrollment criteria for loan recipients for summer session. Students who already earned a master’s degree and are enrolled in courses for guidance counselor, principal or superintendent certification are not eligible for Federal Direct Stafford loans.
The Federal Direct Stafford Loan provides the potential for graduate students to borrow up to $20,500 in unsubsidized Stafford loans per academic year.
There are a number of privately funded loan programs that provide funds to credit worthy students. Although the interest rates and terms are not as generous as the Federal Direct Stafford Loan, some students may be interested in this type of borrowing opportunity.
For more information contact:For the Master of Education (M Ed.), Master of Business Administration (MBA), and Master of Arts (MA) degrees, in addition to submitting a Practitioner Research Report or Comprehensive Exam (M Ed; MA) at the end of all coursework, the M Ed and MBA students must complete at least 10 courses on the graduate level and the MA students must complete at least 20 courses on thegraduate level with an average of “B” (3.0) or better, including no more than two courses with a grade of “C” or less. At any time these standards are not maintained, the student will be placed on probationary status. A probationary student is required to pass an examination before permission to register for additional courses is granted. Failure to pass the examination results in suspension. A suspended student may petition the Graduate Committee for re -admission. Dismissal may occur after the petition is considered.
Students who receive Veterans Education Benefits and who earn below these grade point average thresholds for any semester will be placed on Academic Probation and will be subject to Academic Suspension at the discretion of the Director of the Graduate School. These students will be notified that they are required to meet with the director in order to return to the College. Students who do not follow through with this meeting will be dropped from their next semester’s classes. Students who have not yet registered will have a registration hold which will prevent them from registering until the director indicates such a meeting has taken place and the student is allowed to register.
The law requires that educational assistance benefits to Veterans and other eligible persons be discontinued when those students do not make satisfactory progress toward completion of their educational training objective. Based upon this requirement, any students using Veterans Education Benefits will be suspended from Westminster College when they have two consecutive semesters below the minimum required GPA (as defined above). All such decisions will be made by the Director of the Graduate School in consultation with the graduate faculty. Students receiving Veterans Education Benefits and who have been placed on academic suspension shall remain separated from the College for a minimum of one academic semester.
Veteran Education Benefits can be resumed if the student reenrolls in the same educational institution and in the same program. When a student has failed to maintain prescribed standards of progress, VA will be informed promptly so that benefit payments can be discontinued in accordance with the law. The termination date assigned by Westminster College will be the last day of the term or other evaluation period in which the student’s progress became unsatisfactory. Upon recertification to VA, Westminster’s certifying official should maintain in the student’s file a statement that describes the conditions for the student’s continued certification to VA. These conditions will prescribe the minimum performance standards to be achieved by the student during the next enrollment/ evaluation period.
Westminster’s Graduate School offers two Summer Sessions which generally run from mid May to mid-August.
A wide range of information resources and technologies are offered through Library and Information Services. RALPH McGILL MEMORIAL LIBRARY provides access to online and traditional print academic resources that are carefully selected based on Westminster’s unique curriculum. All of the library’s online resources are available from off-campus locations with a valid Westminster username and password. If you need print resources and/or DVDs from the library’s collection, email mcgillill@westminster.edu with the full citation information and/or links to the WISE page. The Library is also home of the LIS HELP DESK, which provides both library and technology support to the campus. If you need assistance with your Westminster account or any other technological issues, email us at lishelp@westminster.edu.
Students desiring transcripts of credits for courses completed at Westminster College may write to the Registrar, Westminster College, 319 S. Market St., New Wilmington, PA 16172-0001, (and include the following) or make such a request online.
Requests may be made online at www.westminster.edu. Click on the Academics tab, then Registrar and click on Requesting Transcript.
Westminster College Graduate School is standards-based. A student must demonstrate the competencies developed by the program area to be recommended for certification. The practicum and internship courses provide the student with opportunities to demonstrate these competencies. A grade of less than a “B” in a practicum course indicates the student has not demonstrated the program competencies at a level necessary to be recommended for certification. When recommendation for certification is denied, appeals should be directed to the Vice President of Academic Affairs. Denial on the basis of a letter grade is not subject to appeal.
It is the student’s responsibility to make application for certification. Applications for certification in Pennsylvania must be made using the PA Department of Education Teacher Information Management System (TIMS). Information can be found at the PDE website under Teachers and Teacher Certifications. Applications for certification in Ohio may be obtained by calling 614-466-3593 or inquiring through the Ohio Department of Education website.
The Instructional I Certificate is valid for a period of six years of teaching in Pennsylvania and is not renewable. College credit acceptable for conversion to the Instructional II Certificate must be earned at an approved degree-granting institution. All credits must be earned subsequent to the conferring of the bachelor’s degree. Students will be required to pay an application fee. The application for conversion must be processed by the appropriate school district.
The Instructional II Certificate is a certificate issued to an applicant who shall have completed three years of satisfactory teaching on an Instructional I Certificate attested to by the superintendent of the school district in which his or her most recent service was performed; or in the case of an intermediate unit, the executive director; or in the case of an approved non-public school, the chief school administrator. In addition, the applicant shall have completed 24 credit hours of advanced study.
In order to maintain the validity of a certificate, practicing educators must engage in continuing professional development. The Commonwealth requires 180 hours every five years to meet the requirements of Act 48. Two graduate courses constitute 180 hours toward Act 48 credit.
In addition to meeting the College’s program requirements, candidates for certification must pass the appropriate sections ofthe STATE Series Examinations as dictated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education or the Ohio Department of Education.
To obtain the latest testing requirements and scores needed for certification, please check the Praxis website for the current Pennsylvania or Ohio requirements at http://www.ets.org/praxis
All candidates must report scores to:
Graduate courses at Westminster College may be used for professional and licensure purposes in the state of Ohio. Students should consult with the school district personnel office or the Ohio Department of Education. All certification/licensure decisions for Ohio are made by the ODE.
The Westminster College Alumni Association was chartered and registered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in October 1931. The object of the association, as stated in the charter, is threefold: to establish relations between Westminster and her alumni, former students and other friends; to promote systematic giving for College purposes by members of the association; and to advance the interests of the College in whatever ways possible. The Alumni Association offices are located in the Wiley Alumni House. For more information, visit www.westminster.edu/alumni.
The purpose of the Professional Development Center is to provide resources and counsel to assist Westminster students and alumni in making career choices and employment searches. The PDC is located on the second floor of McKelvey Campus Center. For more information, visit https://www.westminster.edu/campus/services/professional-development-center.
Westminster College has been approved by the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) to offer distance education programs to students residing outside the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This includes current Westminster College students taking a Westminster online course, undergraduate or graduate, while located in a state other than Pennsylvania.
The Westminster College Graduate School offers degree programs and online course instruction that leads to and meets requirements for certification and/or licensure programs in Pennsylvania. Further, these degree programs are designed but not certified to meet requirements outlined by licensure and certification entities in states other than Pennsylvania. The decision to certify and/or license a Westminster graduate ultimately resides with the licensing and/or certifying agency. It is recommended students contact the appropriate agency, board, organization, or specific entity to ensure the correct academic requirements will be met through Westminster College graduate degree programs.
Students participating in internships, practicums, or field experiences outside of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania should seek prior approval from their department chair. This applies to both online and in - person educational opportunities outside of Pennsylvania.
NC-SARA Membership includes institutions representing 49 states. California is not a member of NC-SARA. As a result, Westminster College is currently unable to enroll students in online courses if they reside in the state of California
As per NC-SARA, student complaints about an experience in a Westminster online course may be directed to the following: .
Information on NC-SARA and Institutional Approval: https://nc-sara.org
Information pertaining to Westminster College and its approvals through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: https://www.education.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx
For further information regarding the Westminster College Graduate School online course offerings, degree programs, andcertification programs: www.westminster.edu/graduate
Westminster College is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education:
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