How do I know what class to register for?
In your first quarter you will meet with a faculty advisor to explore your program amd fill out a registration form. (Your faculty advisor will remain the same throughout your time at Meadville Lombard, unless you request a change or an advisor is not available, such as in the case of sabbatical or leave.)

You and your advisor will develop a plan of study and share reflections on your progress in preparing for ministry.

All fees must be paid at the time of registration. You will receive a copy of your registration and invoice for the quarter.

When do I register?
Registration for new students is scheduled the week prior to the beginning of the academic year. 

Returning students register in late May for the Autumn quarter. Registration for the Winter Quarter occurs in November; and for the Spring quarter, in March.

Registration for the January Intensive courses occurs over the summer months, beginning July 15.

Registration information for the July intensive begins on March 15 of each year.

How do I register for ACTS Courses?
When you enroll in an ACTS course, you will be given cross-registration and Grade Report forms to complete.  The Registrar signs and forwards this form to the appropriate ACTS school. The ACTS school will inform the Registrar when the cross-registration has been approved and completed. If there is a problem, the Registrar will inform you.

What about University of Chicago Courses?
To take a course at the University of Chicago (U of C), you must get your advisors approval first. You will then be given a Bi-Registration form to complete. The Registrar signs and gives the form to you and then you take it to the Office of the Registrar at the U of C Divinity School (Swift Hall, Room 103). 

The Divinity School Registrar then processes your registration. Meadville Lombard students must register with the Divinity School Registrar regardless of the course/school for which they are registering (SSA, Divinity, Business, etc.).

You will receive in the mail an invoice from the U of C for the registration (tuition and fees). Review the invoice for accuracy, then give it to the Meadville Lombard Registrar for processing.

NOTE: When you take a U of C course, you must maintain contact with the Meadville Lombard Registrar and the Divinity School Registrar to assure that no problems occur.

How do I add or drop a course?
You must see the Meadville Lombard Registrar in order to add or drop a course.  You will complete an Add/Drop form and the Registrar processes the program change.  You will be given a copy of the program change. If the program change results in a tuition/fee adjustment, the adjustment will be made at that time and you will receive a copy of the adjustment.

If you are adding or dropping a U of C course, after you make the program change with the Meadville Lombard Registrar and receive your copy of the Add/Drop form, you must take your form to the Divinity School Registrar to assure the proper program change. The Divinity School Registrar will then give you the proper forms for the U of C program change. If you by-pass the Divinity School Registrar, you risk losing health insurance, library privileges, gym privileges, and your program changes cannot be guaranteed.

May I audit a class?
A student who is registered for a full program of courses may audit, at a reduced charge, classes subject to the consent of the instructor. Audited courses do not carry credit and are not part of the student’s permanent record, unless requested.

What if I need to take a leave of absence?
If you are considering a leave of absence, you should meet first with your advisor or the Academic Dean to discuss your needs and plans. The student must present a petition to the faculty explaining the purpose, need, and expected length of absence. Once on leave, you should be back in contact with the Academic Dean  within a year to report on your situation.

Will you accept transfer credits?
Any questions about what is acceptable transfer credit should be referred to the Academic Dean.  Credits will not be used to fulfill requirements for another degree. Courses that are transferred may exempt students from required courses, permitting the substitution of electives to fulfill ML degree requirements.

May I petition for advanced standing?
All petitions for advanced standing resulting from previous seminary training must be submitted to the Academic Dean. No work done for a previous degree will be applied toward degree requirements at ML. The amount of advanced standing granted depends on the accreditation of institutions where the work was done, course correlation to the ML’s requirements, and the academic performance of the student. In all cases, the amount and nature of the advanced standing is left to the discretion of the Academic Dean.

How do I withdraw from Meadville Lombard?
Any student accepted into and enrolled in a degree program who later decides to withdraw from the school shall submit formal notification (in writing) to the faculty for approval along with a copy to the Registrar for legal record and file.

Any student withdrawing for any reason is responsible for the registration fee for the quarter in which the withdrawal occurred. However, a student who is given approval to withdraw shall be granted a refund of a portion of the original tuition charge in accordance with the following ML schedule:

Last day for 100% reduction — End of first week
Last day for 65% reduction — End of third week
Last day for 50% reduction — End of fourth week
Last day for 30% reduction — End of fifth week

Any student not providing formal notification nor gaining approval for withdrawal shall be liable for all charges.

What if I decide to transfer to another school?
You are advised to meet with your Academic Advisor regarding your intentions to transfer from Meadville Lombard. Then:

• Write a letter to the Academic Dean and the Registrar indicating your intent to transfer and when the transfer will take place (i.e., end of academic year, end of quarter, etc.).

• Meet with the Business Manager to pay any outstanding balances to ML.

• If you have a Stafford Loan, meet with the Financial Aid Administrator to cancel your Stafford Loan, and complete the Exit Interview.

• If you need a transcript mailed, a transcript request form must be submitted to the Registrar.  A payment of $4 must accompany the transcript request. No transcripts will be released if you have an outstanding balance.

If you were awarded financial aid from Meadville Lombard, then declare your decision to transfer to another school, you will immediately lose the awarded financial assistance for the remainder of the academic year.

What about grades?
You will be sent a notice of grades at the end of each quarter, once the faculty submit the grades and a report of work completed to the registrar.