MTS, MDiv, and CTS students at Trinity College are expected to complete all TST courses by the end of the term in which they were registered (with the exception of internship papers). In exceptional cases such as illness, bereavement, or other compassionate circumstances, students may request an extension to complete their coursework beyond the official deadline. If such a request is approved, it is recorded as a Standing Deferred (SDF).
To apply for an SDF, students must first obtain the TST Basic Degree Request for Extension of Course Work Completion form from the Faculty of Divinity Office. This form must then be submitted to the course instructor for consideration. If the instructor agrees to the request, they will sign the form and establish a new deadline for the submission of the outstanding coursework.
Once the instructor has approved and signed the form, it must be submitted to the Dean or another designated college official. This submission must occur no later than the second-to-last class meeting of the course. Requests submitted after this point will not be accepted.
After submission, the request is reviewed by the Committee of the Teaching Staff. If approved, the student will receive a temporary grade of SDF for the course.
Instructors are required to assign a grade based on the work completed up to the point of the SDF request. If the student submits the remaining coursework by the newly agreed-upon deadline, the SDF will be replaced with a final grade. If the student fails to meet this deadline and does not receive a further extension, the instructor will assign a final grade based on the completed work, which may include a failing grade. Alternatively, the student may petition for a permanent Incomplete (INC).
All SDFs must be completed by the last day of the following academic term. For courses taken in the spring term, the final deadline to complete outstanding work is August 31. Students are not permitted to carry more than two SDFs into a subsequent academic term.