Student Ministry Syllabus - Fall 2006

Janelle Aldridge, Director of Student Ministry
Email: stm@tfc.edu
Phone extension is 5224

INTRODUCTION
The purpose of Student Ministry is to provide Christian service to the community. It also provides opportunities for students to learn and gain experience outside of the classroom setting. Students are to learn how to serve the church and all humanity through practical ministry experience. The purpose statement of the Student Ministry program is to challenge students toward spiritual and moral growth by involving them in practical Christian ministry.

Students should remember that they are representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ and of Toccoa Falls College as they perform their ministries. Students should be careful to bring honor to the Lord and respect for Toccoa Falls College in appearance, actions, and words.

CRITERIA FOR A MINISTRY
To qualify for Student Ministry credit, a ministry must meet the following criteria:

1. The ministry will meet on a weekly basis for the semesters or for the summer and winterium.
2. Students must fulfill any ministry preparation requirements.
3. All ministries must be adequately mentored by an adult.
4. All mentors must provide an evaluation for students.
5. Students must have an opportunity for discipleship in all ministries.
6. The ministry must benefit the intended recipients.
7. The ministry must contribute to the student's personal development.
8. The ministry must provide an opportunity for practical application of classroom training.
9. The ministry must be consistent with the policies of the college.

School directors may specify certain ministries that students can choose from, to provide exposure to ministries more directly related to their course work and major. Students should make ministry selection decisions based on student preferences, catalog requirements, and the approval of the Director of Student Ministry. 

MINISTRY COVENANT

The Student Ministry Covenant is a semester-long agreement binding Toccoa Falls College, the student, and a ministry mentor to the mutual goals of support and commitment to the other's life and ministry. Please have your ministry mentor and yourself sign this covenant and bring the white copy to the Office of Student Ministry by September 15, 2006. We also use this covenant to contact your mentor with a letter for allowing you to complete your Student Ministry with him/her.

ATTENDANCE
Ministry assignments involve participation once a week. The time required for each week is two hours. There are 15 ministry weeks in the semester. Students must attend at least 75% of the weeks (11weeks) to pass their student ministry. Students must complete attendances each week electronically using the TFC Forms Online.  All attendances are due online on December 4, 2006

EVALUATIONS
The Self-Evaluation form and a Mentor Evaluation will be available online beginning on October 18, 2006. Students must fill out the Self Evaluation form, and the Mentor completes Mentor evaluation form either on line or by printing it off and sending it to the office. Both evaluation forms are due to the office by November 17, 2006.  Please complete the evaluation form by the level of your Student Ministry.

SELF-REFLECTION PAPER

A two page self-reflection paper is now required for the completion of a ministry. The paper explains how you were used in your ministry and how God stretched you in this ministry during the semester. Papers are due on November 17, 2006

DROPPING AND WITHDRAWL

Students drop and add Student Ministry through the internet using Campus Connect the drop-add period end August 25, 2006.  Withdrawals after the drop and add period of any academic term note weather the student was passing or failing. The last day to withdraw failing from a class is the Friday following fall or spring break. Students must return a course withdrawal form to the Registrar's Office within 48 hours of the date noted on the form, for that date to be effective.

GRADING
The grading scale is A, B, C, D, or F. The office bases the grade on attendance, timeliness of returning Self and Mentors Evaluation forms, the rating of the mentor, and the timeliness of the two page paper. The office assigns points to each of the four categories. Students can earn a maximum of five points for each category. The four categories are totaled and the office determines the final grade as follows: A = 20 points, B = 18 or 19 points, C = 17 points, D = 16 points, F = 15 points or less.

For those ministries with no attendance cards, the maximum number of points is ten. These ministries are Resident Assistants, music teams Proclamation, Rejoice and Exaltation. That scale is as follows: A = 15 points, B = 14 points, C = 13 points, D = 12 points and F = 11 points or less. The office records the grade on the permanent transcript.

REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION
Student ministry is a requirement for graduation. Students must successfully complete a minimum of four semesters of student ministry, (five semesters for all Bible and Theology majors) for the Bachelor's degree. Students must successfully complete a minimum of two semesters of student ministry for the Associate of Arts degree. Transfer students must successfully complete one student ministry for each semester enrolled, with a maximum of four student ministries for a Bachelor's degree (five semesters for all Bible and Theology majors) and two student ministries for an Associate of Arts degree. Each school has the option of requiring a minimum of six semesters of student ministry. Students must meet these requirements to receive permission to participate in commencement or receive a diploma.