Pass/Fail Courses
For the Spring 2020 term, we will approve all requests for pass/fail grading and will waive the deadline to request pass/fail through the end of the term. Additionally, courses taken as pass/fail this semester will not apply to a student’s overall limit. If you choose to pursue this option, please fill out the student petition form and send to semacademicserv@northpark.edu to make your request. Be sure to list all applicable classes.
Register for Summer Courses
Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, we can no longer gather at this time and so all summer classes will take place online. As you can imagine, it is challenging converting intensive courses into an online format and we’re still working on the details. Here are some things you need to know for master’s level courses this June:
1. Class will open in Canvas on May 18th (be ready to log in to Canvas then) and close on July 31st so that you have enough time to complete your work.
2. Your class will not be structured quite like your other online classes. This one will feature a significant amount of time face-to-face through video conference in addition to online content in Canvas.
3. With some exceptions, the bulk of the video conference time will take place during the original week your class was scheduled so please keep those days as blocked off as possible.
4. Adjusted preliminary syllabi are now due on April 27th and will be posted to the school website by May 1st. See the “Schedules and Syllabi” section of the Student Resources page and click on Summer 2020. Course titles will be linked to the preliminary syllabus. Instructors will post final versions in Canvas when the class opens.
5. All summer courses will count toward your residency requirement even though you cannot come physically to campus. Please do be sure to attend the video conference sessions.
If you need more information regarding the summer schedule, please visit the NPTS website here: https://www.northpark.edu/seminary/academics/student-resources/summer-2020-schedule-and-syllabi/
Student Impact Survey
Students will receive a link to a Student Impact Survey on behalf of Student Engagement/NPTS. Please use this to share your experience and concerns about engaging in coursework during the pandemic. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to Emily Wagner.
Fall Registration is Open!
Don’t forget to keep planning ahead! Registration for Fall 2020 is open. Make sure to contact your advisor if you have any questions about what courses to take. Fall Registration information can be found here: https://www.northpark.edu/seminary/academics/student-resources/fall-2020-schedule-and-syllabi/
Blog Design for Max Lee
Max Lee, Associate Professor of New Testament, needs help transferring an existing biblioblog on blogspot.com to wordpress. He is looking for a TA who could help with the transfer and also redesign the biblioblog for a fresh re-launch. Please contact him at mlee1@northpark.edu if you are interested in working on this project starting July 1, 2020 at the hourly TA rate. Please send a resume and any sample blogs builds or websites you’ve designed, but all queries are welcome.
Pandemic Prayerbook
Nilowona Nowlin, one of our NPTS students, has assisted in creating a free Pandemic Prayerbook and is offering it to our community. She writes:
First, let me start with a blessing I’ve been using lately: May you find strength to keep going and comfort for the times you feel you can’t.
I contributed a prayer to this FREE resource and wanted to share it with you all. I know there are a ton of similar resources out there already, so no hard feelings if you choose not to use it. However, if you do use it and share it online, please use the tag #pandemicprayerbook.
The Praybook can be found here.
Library Resources
Do not forget that even though Brandel Library is closed, it is open virtually! There are a variety of resources available to students.
- Research Guides: Research Guides on the Brandel Library webpage has links to nearly all the relevant reference books (i.e., dictionaries, encyclopedias, companions, handbooks, etc.) for biblical, theological, and ministry studies that Brandel has in digital or e-book format.
- Online Commentary Sets: The online guides include most of the major commentaries and commentary sets that we have in digital or e-book format. In addition, the guide contains links to digital sites such as Oxford Biblical Studies Online, Oxford Reference, Ministry Matters, and Atla Websites on Religion as well as the Open Access Digital Theological Library.
- Digital Books: The guide does NOT include most of the e-books that Brandel owns, because of space. The remainder of the e-book titles will show up when you search for subjects or titles or authors in the online catalog and then click on “Electronic” in the menu for format on the right side of your screen.
- Atla Plus Religion Database
- Bloomsbury Theology & Religious Studies Online
- Bloomsbury Education and Childhood Studies Online
- The T&T Clark Jesus Library: This collection is available through the Bloomsbury Theology & Religion Online collection. To access this, click on the “Collections” tab at the top of the home page and the drop down menu will show two collections: the T&T Clark Theology Library and The T&T Clark Jesus Library .
- Cambridge Core: NPTS has temporary free access to Cambridge University Press resources. This includes access to Cambridge Companions, Cambridge Histories, Cambridge Elements, and their Institutional Textbooks. Access available until May 31, 2020.
Please contact NPTS Librarian Steve Spencer if you have questions about any of this or about how you can access Brandel resources online. srspencer@northpark.edu
Writing Center – Virtual Drop in Hours
Writing Center virtual drop-in hours are Mon-Thurs 10 am-12 pm, 1-5 pm, 6-10 pm, and Sun 4-8 pm. Students can initiate a virtual drop-in conference by sending an email or chat message to the Writing Advisor on duty through their North Park Outlook email account. For troubleshooting, contact Melissa Pavlik during faculty drop-in hours (Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri 12-1 pm), email Melissa Pavlik, or sign up for a virtual appointment here. The Writing Advisor drop-in schedule can be found here.
Summer Scholarship Option: A Christian Ministry in the National Parks
Our whole world has changed while we continue to serve a God that does not change. For many graduate students, it means that their education looks entirely different, and the summer internship they had may or may not exist anymore.
We are pleased to let you know that a summer opportunity with A Christian Ministry in the National Parks (ACMNP) still exists! We would love to present your students with the opportunity to work a full time job at a resort company while leading interdenominational worship services and engaging in relational ministry efforts in the workplace. Our seminarian participants, or those furthering their education in a ministry related field, walk away with a ministry experience, job opportunity, and $2,000 educational award! The parks will need the ministry of ACMNP more than ever this upcoming summer.
We would love if you passed our website on to your students letting them know about the opportunity à https://acmnp.com/