Student Responsibilities and Expectations

Early in their degree program, students will have various opportunities to meet with the Director of Theological Field Education, the Director of Denominational Formation (if applicable) and the professors in the Practical Theology area of the school. Some of these encounters will be informal, some more formal in interviews or courses. Through this time, there is opportunity to discuss vocational goals and how these might be met through the student’s program of Theological Field Education.

 

The TFE Journey 

Students in the MA-PPL and MDiv degree programs begin with TFE-E: Exploration and PT505 (3 credits), which are taken concurrently and take place in Spring Term.  Students are advised to take it early in their program. In PT505 and TFE: Exploration students explore possibilities for a ministry site and mentor.   At the close of that term, the student makes a live presentation of the Project Proposal and, if accepted, TFE-E: Exploration is complete.

In a subsequent year, students move into either TFE-P: Leadership in Practice (taken concurrently with The Studio (PT651 and PT652) or TFE-FC: Leadership in Faith Community (MDiv students only). Students are expected to engage in their learning site for 8-12 hours per week over 8-12 weeks of each term of field placement.

 

Expectations

In all units, students in field site locations are expected to:

• Meetings: Students need to meet for one hour weekly or two hours bi-weekly to reflect theologically on the their progress in attaining the goals, objectives and action plans listed in the Learning Covenant.
• Evaluation reports: Each student is required to elaborate evaluation reports (mid-year, final year) as required by each program.
• Management of time: The time required to plan for other meetings, workshops and worship services should be included in time spent in the field placement work and must be negotiated with the mentor. It is necessary for students to take one week off for reading week and to have a Christmas break. Any other time away from the site must be negotiated with their mentor/supervisors.
• Abide by all applicable policies of VST and of the appropriate denominational authority (section 6 of the TFE handbook)