Registrar

The Office of the Registrar

The primary function of the Registrar’s Office is to maintain academic records. We serve students in a number of ways:


Loan Deferments and Veteran's Benefits

The Registrar’s Office processes loan deferments and helps veterans procure benefits. Enrolled students may submit their academic loan deferment forms or veteran benefit forms to the Registrar’s Office for completion.

Registrar

Transfer Credit Policy

Upon request of the Admissions Office, the Registrar will initiate the transfer credit assessment process for applicants whose files are complete. Currently enrolled students should contact the Registrar directly.

A limited number of transfer credits for M.A.C.E., M.A.P.T., and M.Div. students may be accepted for work completed within the past eight years at institutions accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, or at institutions offering graduate-level work accredited by one of the nationally recognized regional accrediting agencies in the United States. Union Presbyterian Seminary reserves the right to deny transfer credit for courses taken at institutions that do not meet its accreditation standards. Transfer students are encouraged to contact the Registrar’s Office for further details.

In assessing the transferability of credits earned at other institutions, the Registrar’s Office, in consultation with the Academic Dean, will examine only official transcripts. As needed, the Registrar’s Office will consult faculty members in departments related to the areas in which courses have earned these credits. If approval is given to the transfer of credits, the Registrar’s Office will notify the student (or applicant, if a person requests this information in considering whether to apply for admission to our seminary). At the student’s request, and with written information, the Registrar’s Office will release this information to other entities such as denominational credentialing bodies and Veterans Affairs. The Registrar’s Office will maintain these records as part of the seminary’s institutional records.

Students who receive transfer credit for all required courses in any competency area are ordinarily required to take at least one elective course in that area (biblical studies, theology, ethics, history, education, and practical theology). Transfer students must earn at least half of the credits required for their degree at UPSem, including at least six credit hours in supervised ministry for M.Div. students.

Students transferring into the M.Div./ M.A.C.E. dual degree program or the M.Div./M.A.P.T. dual degree program must spend a minimum of three years enrolled in the program in order to receive both degrees.

Students transferring into the M.A.C.E./M.A.P.T. dual degree program must spend a minimum of two years enrolled in the program in order to receive both degrees.

Credits to be earned through study at another school (other than the School of Theology, Virginia Union University), after a student has enrolled at UPSem, require prior approval before they are begun. Some denominationally required courses that are offered online may be eligible for credit. Richmond students are to contact the Richmond Academic Dean. Charlotte students are to contact the Charlotte Academic Dean.

Union Presbyterian Seminary considers for transfer credit only those distance-learning courses for which it can be established, in the judgment of the appropriate academic dean in consultation with the appropriate departments, that peer and student-faculty interaction meet or exceed standards maintained in UPSem courses. Credits that have already been applied toward an earned degree cannot ordinarily be transferred.

No credits may be accepted from a conferred degree. Degree requirements for prior credit students are specified in the UPSem academic catalog.


Disability Policy

Policy Concerning Students with Learning Disabilities

This Union Presbyterian Seminary policy is designed to enhance the educational environment for learning-disabled students who show promise for effective ministry and to provide information that will help learning-disabled students evaluate the feasibility of studying at UPSem. Primary responsibility for considering and/or arranging accommodations with each professor is lodged in mutual agreement between the student and her or his professor. Students must file with the registrar documentation verifying their needs at least two weeks in advance of enrollment for any term or semester in which these needs are to be considered and must take the initiative to contact professors for preliminary discussions and planning at least two weeks before a course is scheduled to begin. Any special conditions for an exam, including the provision of extra time for the exam, will be set by the professor of the course with advance notice to the student and to the appropriate academic dean. For additional details, see the Union Presbyterian Seminary Policy and Procedure Booklet at upsem.net.

Policy Concerning Students with Physical Disabilities

Students with physical disabilities must notify the director of student services of their needs and provide supporting information at least four weeks before the beginning of any term or semester in which these needs are to be considered so as to provide a basis for appropriate response and reasonable time for the seminary to decide, plan, and achieve any accommodations.

Documentation: Medical or Health Needs

When medical or health—physical, psychological, or emotional—needs and/or reasons are cited for failure to comply with institutional policies and deadlines or for failure to make due academic progress or for failure to honor or practice community norms, the student may be required to provide official statements from medical and/or health professionals of such form, nature, and detail as the seminary considers necessary in order to establish a sound basis for subsequent academic and community decisions. All such information will be treated respectfully and accessed on a need-to-know basis only by those involved in the care, response, and decision process. UPSem reserves the right to require such documentation, to determine the adequacy or lack thereof of documentation, and to determine the implications of the documentation for its decision.

Disability Services
ADA Compliance
Susan Blanchard, Director of Student Services, Watts 107, (804) 278‑4204 , sblanchard@upsem.edu
Learning Disabilities
Stan Hargraves, Registrar, Watts 307, (804) 278‑4379 , shargraves@upsem.edu


United Methodist Information

Union Presbyterian Seminary has a consortium agreement with Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC which allows UPSem students to take courses at Wesley. Registration information can be found at the Wesley Theological Seminary website or from Stan Hargraves’ office located in Watts 307, phone 804-278-4379. You can also go directly to the form by going here. Before you submit your application you will need to see Stan Hargraves for a special code that will bypass your needing to have transcripts or recommendations. After submitting your application you will also need a verification letter from the UPSem registrar or dean that you are in good standing.
Because different United Methodist conferences may have different requirements, we have provided you links to specific conference information. Please check with the appropriate United Methodist conference office for the specific requirements of your conference and Stan Hargraves, UPSem Registrar and United Methodist Advisor.

Virginia Conference

North Carolina Conference

Western North Carolina Conference

You can download a listing of Wesley and UPSem courses that meet common United Methodist requirements for ordination. Please note that travel seminars may or may not meet the mission requirements of a particular conference. Additionally a preaching course is not mandated by the Discipline so not all conferences will require preaching.

UPSem courses will apply to Wesley’s course prerequisites if there are any. Also both seminary’s policies state that students may not take supervised ministry and another course. However students can set up their supervised ministry contract to possibly allow one course as long as they do not overlap.

Wesley Course Listings


The Registrar's Office can also help you obtain information about:

  • Extension Requests for Charlotte students
  • Exception Requests for Richmond or Hybrid Program students
  • Extension Requests for Hybrid Program and Richmond students
  • Exception Requests for Charlotte students
  • Directed Studies
  • Hybrid Courses
  • Travel Seminar Schedule

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact Susan Blanchard, Registrar (1-800-229-2990 ext. 379 or 804-278-4379) or Glenda Blackwell, Assistant to the Registrar (1-800-229-2990 ext. 233 or 804-278-4233).

Registrar Office Hours
Monday – Friday
8:30 am to 5:00 pm.