Extension
An “Extension” is a one year addition to a student’s academic time clock because the student has been unable to complete his or her requirements due to a variety of reasons such as heavy ministerial responsibilities, an administrative overload, an unusually heavy teaching load, or similar circumstances.
  • An extension applies only to students in the Th.M., D.Min., D.Miss, D.R.E., and Th.D. degree programs whose academic clock has expired.  Time expiration is determined by the number of years a student has been enrolled in the various programs of ABGTS.  The D.Min., D.Miss., D.R.E., and Th.D. students have four years to complete their requirements before requesting an extension from the faculty of the Area Learning Center.  Th.M. students have three years to complete their requirements before requesting an extension from the ALC Faculty.  The Ph.D. degree requirement is already considered an extension of the D.R.E. and Th.D. therefore, this degree does not need further extension beyond the three years allowed.
  • An extension is granted by the faculty of the Area Learning Center for one year period at a time and may be renewed.  The number of renewals allowed depends on the degree program.  Th.M. students may be granted up to 3 one-year extensions, not to exceed a total of six years of study.  D.Min., D.Miss., D.R.E. and Th.D. students may be granted up to 2 one-year extensions, not to exceed a total of six years of study.
  • No extension of study is available beyond six years unless the student makes a request for reinstatement through the Dean’s office to the Executive Committee of ABGTS.
  • A student should request an extension at the end of his or her formal academic time through the Associate Dean.  The student should state in writing the reason(s) he or she was unable to complete his or her degree in the time allotted for the degree requirements.  The student should indicate how he or she plans to complete his or her remaining requirements in the extension period.  The Associate Dean will circulate the student’s request to the faculty.  The faculty will approve or disapprove the request for extension either as a circularized motion or motion of faculty minutes, and the Associate Dean will communicate to the student the faculty decision.  A copy of the minutes should be filed in the student’s record and a copy forwarded to the Dean’s Office.
  • Based on the 1995 Executive Committee meeting of ABGTS in Singapore, the respective Area Learning Center may choose to assess an “extension fee.”  The annual registration fee will continue to be assessed during extension periods.