This page includes all the avenues DTS provides to receive feedback, petitions, complaints, or reports. The Student Appeals Committee evaluates each appeal in terms of extenuating circumstances or circumstances beyond the control of the student (see section 1.26.2 in the Student Handbook for more details).
Academic and Financial Petitions
Students seeking to request a decision about a billing fee, academic policy, etc., should follow the steps below:
- Student Appeal Form – Submit your petition here for academic appeals (grades, degree time limits, course substitutions for required courses, etc.) or financial appeals (waive fees, tuition adjustments, etc.).
- Letter to Appeals Committee – If you are unsatisfied with the response to your request (step 1), you may write a letter to the Student Appeals Committee (appeals@dts.edu) asking for reconsideration.
- Appeal to VP – If the Appeals Committee is is not in your favor, for academic issues you may appeal to the VP for Education (ado@dts.edu) and for all other issues you may appeal to the VP for Enrollment (enrollment@dts.edu).
Course Extension Requests
All course extension requests must be submitted by 11:59pm (CST) on the Sunday before finals week in order to be considered (see section 1.19 in the Student Handbook for more details). Students seeking a course extension beyond the last day of the term should follow the steps below:
- Notify Professor – Before you submit the form below, please talk with your professor about your situation and if they would approve a course extension.
- Course Extension Form – This form is in the Student Portal and requires you to login first. Course extensions are granted for Extenuating Circumstances and students must specify how their circumstances fit the criteria in their extension request.
Reports and Complaints
- General Student Complaint – Complaints that are not addressed by the Student Handbook should be sent through this General Student Complaint Form. Completed forms will be reviewed and forwarded to the appropriate department for follow-up. An email response from the vice president of the appropriate department or his or her designee will be sent to you within a reasonable time of your submission.
- Report Violence, Abuse, or Harassment (Title IX) – Any student, staff, faculty member, or guest who believes he or she has been the victim of discrimination, discriminatory harassment, or sexual harassment, including any type of violence or sexual misconduct perpetrated by an employee, other student, or third party related to DTS that occurred on-or-off-campus at a DTS activity or program is urged to report the incident to (1) to law enforcement and (2) to one of DTS\’s Title IX coordinators:
- Karen McDonald, Director of Employee Success, kmcdonald@dts.edu
- Dr. Joye Baker, Women\’s Adviser in Educational Ministries and Leadership jbaker@dts.edu
- John Bloom, Chief of DTS Police jbloom@dts.edu
- Report Ethics Violation (Whistleblower) – report activities that may involve criminal, unethical, or otherwise inappropriate behavior by DTS employees in violation of Dallas Theological Seminary’s policies. This is run by an outside organization and all reports are secure and anonymous.
- Complaints Regarding Disabilities – Any student who wishes to appeal the decision made for his or her request for accommodation may do so by notifying the coordinator of services for students with disabilities in the Student Services Office (disability@dts.edu).
- Dismissal for Conduct Complaint – Students who are dismissed the Dean of Students for a disciplinary issue may make a written appeal to the Student Affairs Committee. Students may also appeal the decision of the Students Affairs Committee in writing to the Academic Dean who will take the appeal to the faculty for final decision.
- Complaint to Outside Entities – Students should submit complaints beyond the seminary to the appropriate oversight bodies. This includes the Department of Education for the handling of student records, the Association of Theological Schools for violations of ATS accreditation standards, the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools for violations of SACSCOC principles. Students who believe the seminary has violated ATS or SACSCOC standards in any way should submit their complaint in writing to the Academic Dean (ado@dts.edu) who serves as the coordinator of matters related to institutional accreditation.
Feedback
- Employee Suggestion Box – DTS employees can make suggestions that will be sent to the appropriate vice president.
