Guidelines for Project Advisors...

..who are Seminary Faculty

Project Purpose and Credits

• The DMin project counts for six of the program's 32 semester credits. It is expected that the DMin candidate submit a professional work integrating practical ministry while meeting the academic standards of a post-graduate degree.
  
• The purpose of the project is to measure integration of knowledge in a particular ministerial area, and ability to implement in a creative and practical way the ministerial competencies gained during the program.

Advisors' Load

• The seminary reduces the teaching load of advisors based on a point system. The advisor earns two points a year per project and the second reader one. The maximum number of points that a faculty member is allowed to generate a year is sixty. Advising credit expires after three years. The following table illustrates the impact of project points on the teaching load of advisors:

Advisors' Responsibilities

• Guiding the candidate in the development of the proposal
  • Students contact a faculty member or approved adjunct advisor they feel will help them with the project topic. At the acceptance of the advisor, the DMin office sends a letter officially establishing him/her as the student's advisor. The student also selects a second reader with the same process.
    
  • The advisor counsels the student in the development of the project proposal.
  • Once the proposal reaches its final form, the candidate submits it to the chairman of the Proposal Committee. In some cases, a proposal committee is created for a cohort group at an extension site in communication with the program director.
• Counseling the student during the project/dissertation
  • Once the proposal is approved, advisors should provide appropriate guidance. Advisors should not do the work for the student. Generally one conversation of 15-20 minutes should accompany written feedback on the proposal and each subsequent chapter.
  • The project report should be confined to about 100-150 pages if it involves an in-ministry project and to 200-250 pages if it is a dissertation of a theoretical nature.
  • Advisors should ask students to submit one chapter at a time.
  • Students whose native language is not English and have passed the TOEFL test should be advised to have chapters reviewed by qualified English editors before they submit them to the advisor. Editors can be hired ONLY for the use of the language and format.
  • Students should complete their projects in no more than six years from the time they took the first DMin course. Students may request in writing and extension of one additional year.
  • To meet the program's time limitations, advisors should return chapters to students within 21 days.

Second Readers' Responsibilities

• When the project proposal is voted, the second reader receives a copy of the proposal in order to prepare him/her for their work.
• Read chapter submissions and communicate comments and suggestions to the student, preferably through the advisor. Agreement with the advisor can be made to communicate directly to the student.
• Affirm in communication with the advisor readiness for defense of the project/dissertation.
• Participate in the defense.

Third Readers' Responsibilities

• Read the completed project approximately three weeks prior to the defense.
• Participate in the defense.

Preparing for the Project Defense

• Once the project has been approved by the advisor and second reader and reviewed by the dissertation secretary—Linda Bauer—the student, in consultation with the advisor should secure a defense date from the DMin office.
• Three weeks before the defense date, students should submit two more copies to the DMin office: one copy for the program director and for the third reader who is chosen by the program director.
• The defense should take place at least four weeks before graduation to allow time for possible corrections suggested by the defense committee.
• Since most students want their defenses close to graduation time, the DMin office schedules them on a first-come-first-served basis.

Defense Format

• Advisors should remind students of the defense format so they can have an idea of what to expect.
• Students may attend a DMin defense prior to their own defense to become acquainted with the procedure.
• Format
  • Introductory remarks—by the program director
  • Prayer—by the first advisor
  • Brief presentation by the student
  • Two rounds of questions—10-to-15 minutes each—beginning with the first advisor and ending with the program director.
  • Committee deliberation—committee leaves the defense room; student and observers remain.
  • Announcement of the outcome.
  • Reception

The next cohort for the Youth and Young Adult Ministry concentration will be coordinated by Dr. Steve Case. He is president of InvolveYouth, a parachurch organization that energizes young people for service.