Need some advice about Trinity Seminary

I began Trinity Theological Seminary's Ph.D. program last year and completed one course. Last month, however, I determined that Trinity's program wasn't what I was looking for and I withdrew. A few days later Trinity's financial department informed me that I was still responsible to pay for the entire program (which is in the fine print), and that I was still obligated to make the payments, and that if I discontinued the payments, my account would continue to accrue interest until the account was paid in full. In my opinion Trinity's policy is unfair.

Has anyone dealt with this from Trinity, or any other institution? If so, what do you recommend?

 

That is really unfortunate. One more reason to dislike Trinity, as far as I'm concerned. I can't give you any legal advice. If you, indeed, get stuck paying for the degree, would you consider sucking it up and transferring into one of Trinity's other doctoral programs? At least there is a good chance you'll eventually have a DETC accredited doctorate.

Tom

 

Seems like the school has a good Christian attitude
I assume you are talking of $8,000 or so.

These are my immediate thoughts on steps to persue:
(1) Write a letter to the schools president outlining why you are discontinuing your studies, requesting no further charges, and any other pertinent information. Send by registered mail and keep copies and receipts.
(2) If that does not work write DETC and any other accrediting agencies (with copies to the person contacted in (1).
(3) How did you pay the school in the past - you need to make sure they can't submit additional charges (credit cards or bank ckecks).
(4) Sometime a complaint through your US representative or senators staff can be helpful.

 

Oh if you'd only sought advice BEFORE enrolling. The bottom line, I am afraid, is that you evidently signed a legal, binding financial agreement and you are responsible for it.

 

AReid, I am so sorry.

Prospective seminarians who stumble across this thread should use the website search engine to further research the stream of problems reported by those with direct experience with Trinity Theological Seminary (NOT the accredited Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) and their offshoot Master’s Divinity School (NOT the accredited The Master’s Seminary).

 

A little advice: Always read the fine print before you sign anything.

 

AReid,

In hopes that Ian’s advice gets you unstuck from the TTS tar baby, can you fill us in on your previous qualifications and the direction you want to pursue in your doctoral studies? Perhaps someone here can point you towards a school with strengths in your area of interest. There are numerous accredited and reputable options out there.

 

Thanks to all for the encouragement

David G.

Actually, I've been in contact with an attorney buddy of mine, and he gave me a route to pursue that's similar to what Ian advised. David, to fill you in on my qualifications and aspirations, I've got an MDiv from Covenant Seminary in St. Louis, MO, and I'm looking for a doctorate in worldview apologetics preferably from a reformed perspective, but that might be too much to ask. Anyway, thanks again for the support.

 

Some suggestions

Hi AReid,

Small world - my last two pastors went to Covenant. It's a great school, so I promise to only recommend schools of commensurate quality.

Gordon-Conwell (RA/ATS) offers a D.Min. in Ministering to Post-Modern Generations. It is based around modular courses like most D.Min.’s, and it is focused on "a historical and philosophical survey of postmodernism and the Christian worldview." I am an alum and therefore biased, but I think GCTS is a terrific school, both in terms of quality, attitude, and ethics. While the school is not confessionally Reformed, I am, many of the profs were, and it was a very congenial atmosphere.

Southern Evangelical Seminary is very focused on apologetics, although of the evidentialist variety. Although they only have TRACS accreditation, not regional, they are very solid, and offer both a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion, and a D.Min. in Apologetics.

Talbot will be offering a D.Min. track starting in 2011 entitled, “Engaging Mind and Culture.” They’re regionally and ATS accredited, but from the same philosophical background as SES.

South Africa has some universities worth exploring. Many have Dutch Reformed ties, and they offer exceptional quality coupled with a sad Rand to Dollar exchange rate that makes their programs much less expensive than TTS. You can do a doctorate in theology with residence ranging from none to final defense only, to summer visits. I believe some even work with U.S. Federal Financial Aid. Some of the best ones are Cape Town, Stellenbosch, and Pretoria. Also, while it’s not part of their university system, you also might want to consider the South African Theological Seminary, it’s interdenominational and their equivalent of accredited.

Best wishes, and be sure and let us know what solutions you find!

 

Can you tell whether the PhD program at Southern Evangelical Seminary is available via dl? The master's programs certainly are and, at first, I thought the doctoral programs were too, but on second look I'm no longer so sure whether the doctorates are available via dl.

 

The plot thickens...

Good eye, Ted. Looks like a prospective student would have to go over all the classes with one of their advisors. From their "distance learning" page:

From what I had originally heard, they intended it not to be a resident-only program, but perhaps they haven't "DL'd" all the courses yet. I'm sure that comprehensive exams and oral defense would have to be on-campus.

 

Can you clarify what the term worldview apologetics means (as opposed to any other kind of apologetics)?

 

Faith Seminary offers a DMin with Apologetics concentration. www.faithseminary.edu/PS-DMin.php

 

For those seeking funding for foreign schools

Here is the list of school codes to verify the foriegn institutions that can work with Federal Financial Aid. The list includes some notable schools from South Africa and Britain.

 

Some interesting past TTS threads...you decide

My Letter to NCA re TTS

Trinity College and Seminary. Not a degree mill, right?

 

AReid,

I know it's been a while, but I noticed that The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SACS/ATS accreditation) has announced that they are offering several of their Ph.D. programs through a modular format, including the one in "Apologetics and Worldview." While they're technically not Reformed, the Calvinists at SBTS are as close as one can get in the Baptist realm. Hope this helps!

 

When did you graduate from Covenant? Do you happen to know Christine Dow Rubino? She's a good friend of mine from Auburn.

 

I agree with Dave. Southern Baptist Seminary is very much a Reformed seminary. They tend to be fairly inexpensive also.

Tom

 

Did you do you DMin from Ashland Theological Seminary online?

 

Currently Ashland Theological Seminary doesn't offer D.Min courses online. My program was 2 two week modules a year. Students do pre-module assignments (i.e. reading and papers) and post module papers and projects. www.ashland.edu/seminary