Terms & Conditions
Institutional policies, governance, admissions terms and academic definitions of World Theology University.
Non-Discrimination Policy
World Theology University provides equal conditions and opportunity to all of its administrative officials, students, members and non-members, employees, faculty, etc. We do not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, religion, color, gender, age, national origin, disability, arrest record, conviction, sexual orientation, military status, national origin, or retaliation for opposing an investigation or filing a complaint; any such case will be reviewed individually, as authorized by law. An investigation into discrimination may be conducted to protect the individual, in accordance with the "First Amendment and the amendment protecting freedom of expression and academic freedom." The administrative membership system is assigned to handle investigations related to Non-Discrimination Policies, complaints, and investigations: Dr. Donald Reid, 20 F Street NW, Capitol Hill, 7th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001.
Legal Disclaimer
World Theology University meets the requirements of the state of Washington, D.C. and Florida to obtain the religious exemption in higher education, as well as for secular majors. Such requirements have been verified in accordance with the Education Code of Washington, D.C. and the State of Florida. This University is registered and its higher-education programs are accredited, with all documentation submitted for approval by an accrediting agency in the USA. We must clarify that accreditation alone does not, by itself, determine whether a university is legitimate or trustworthy — that is, not all accreditations are equal. Some accrediting agencies are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), while others are not. Likewise, some universities are based outside U.S. territory and have therefore been accredited under standards that differ from those applied by U.S.-recognized accrediting agencies. Prospective students should be aware of this important information before enrolling at WTU and should consult their own state or country.
Administrative & Governing Bodies
Rectory
The Rectory is the highest authority, holding the honor of representing the University, and exercises its direction, governance, and management. It directs and supervises all academic, administrative, and financial activities of the University. Powers of the Rector include: appointing academic and administrative staff; proposing senior officials and their remuneration to the Board of Directors; proposing the University budget; approving faculty and administrative positions; approving the annual student-admission quota; setting tuition and fees; proposing Professors Emeritus and honorary distinctions; proposing the creation or modification of degrees and study plans; managing University assets; executing Board agreements; and serving as the official channel of communication between the Administrative Council and the University's other bodies. The Rector is the University's legal representative and chief executive authority.
Academic Council
Directs and guides the Institution's academic policy on teaching, research, and extension. Composed of the Rector, the Vice-Rectors, the General Secretariat, the School Directors, the Directorate of Internships, the Directorate of Thesis Completion, and the Directorate of Research and Scientific/Graduate Studies Dissemination. Advises the Rector on academic operations, recommends the creation of degrees and study plans, and determines the University's academic activity calendar.
General Secretariat
The Secretary General is elected by the Board of Directors from among its members for a four-year renewable term. Acts as secretary of the Administrative Council and is in charge of the University's General Archive. Countersigns degrees, diplomas, certificates, and other documents, and oversees the University Registry.
Administrative Vice-Rectory
The University's senior unit responsible for executing university policy on the procurement, planning, organization, and control of the University's financial, administrative, and material resources.
Academic Vice-Rectory
The macro-unit responsible for coordinating and overseeing the policies, activities, and practices of the Vice-Rectories deriving from the institutional mission and objectives, as the body governing higher education at the University.
Student Development Department
Responsible for implementing and improving undergraduate and graduate student-wellbeing programs; supporting recognized student organizations; developing health promotion and prevention programs; managing student physical spaces; and running programs for artistic expression, sports and recreation, healthy living, and social responsibility.
Vice-Rectory of Graduate Studies, Research, and Continuing Education
Administers Graduate programs (Master's and Doctoral degrees) and continuing-education programs (short courses, diplomas, etc.), linking academia with the country's productive sectors.
Dean, Faculty of Humanities
Responsible for planning, directing, supervising, and executing all academic, administrative, and financial activities of the Faculty not reserved by rule to another University authority.
Academic Coordination
An advisory, proposing unit offering technical support to units responsible for the Teaching-Learning Process, tasked with suggesting continuous-improvement procedures to the various faculties and schools.
Director, School of Theological Sciences
The professional in charge of academic and administrative units in the School of Theological Sciences, reporting directly to the Rectory.
Director, School of Counseling
The professional in charge of academic and administrative units in the School of Clinical Counseling and Christian Advisory, reporting directly to the Rectory.
Director, School of Social Communication
The professional in charge of academic and administrative units in the School of Social Communication, reporting directly to the Rectory.
Director of Technology and Technical Support
Responsible for the design, administration, maintenance, technical support, and modernization of the University's academic and administrative IT systems, including connectivity and the institutional network.
Admissions Terms
New
A person who has never belonged to a university-level institution and must take an admission exam to apply.
Transfer
A person who belonged to a university institution and wishes to enroll at WTU as a student transferring from another university.
Program change
A person who belonged to another university in a given program and wishes to continue their training in a different program.
Readmission
A person who belonged to a university and wishes to return to the same or a different program from the one they were taking when they withdrew.
Enrollment Type
The condition under which an applicant may enroll, which determines whether certain special criteria apply — such as available spots and a minimum passing score. Applicants with no special condition are assigned the normal enrollment type and compete for each program's normal spots.
Acceptance Type
The condition under which an applicant becomes admitted during the selection stage. In new-admission undergraduate programs, an applicant who registered under one enrollment type may be admitted under a different acceptance type.
Academic Standards & Policies
Academic Condition
Determined by the term GPA and cumulative academic GPA, per the University's evaluation system as a measure of satisfactory academic progress: the Cumulative GPA must be a maximum of 4.0 and a minimum of 2.0.
Academic Observation Status
Occurs when a student earns a term GPA below 2.0 in two consecutive terms.
Academic Probation Status
Results from a cumulative GPA below 2.0 (except in the student's first term), or from a term GPA below 2.0 for a third consecutive time.
Program Separation
A student is automatically separated from their program when: (1) their term GPA is below 2.0 for a fourth consecutive time; or (2) their cumulative GPA has been below 2.0 in four terms over the course of the program.
Academic Dismissal
Results in separation from the University, applying when: (1) the student has been separated from a program a second time; or (2) after separation and readmission to another program, the student earns a GPA below 2.0 in the first term of the new program.
Academic GPA
Obtained by dividing total points by total credits. Two indices are calculated: the Term GPA, using all courses enrolled in a given term; and the Cumulative GPA, using all courses enrolled in and completed at the University.
Course Withdrawal
This process lets a student withdraw from enrolled courses for reasons beyond their control and postpone taking them in another term.
—If withdrawal occurs within the first two weeks of the academic cycle, the student pays only the withdrawal cost.
—After the first two weeks, courses may be withdrawn up to three days before the start of the second midterm exam period on the Academic Schedule; in this case the student pays the full credit cost and receives a grade of W (withdrawn).
Academic Honors
The University recognizes meritorious students who, throughout their academic career, have upheld the University's prestige through high academic performance and correct conduct. The University confers the honor titles Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude, based on cumulative academic GPA, per the following equivalency:
—Cum Laude: 3.2–3.4 GPA (85–89)
—Magna Cum Laude: 3.5–3.7 GPA (90–94)
—Summa Cum Laude: 3.8–4.0 GPA (95–100)
—Students are excluded from honors if they: have been on academic probation; have been separated from their program or the University; have been sanctioned by the Disciplinary Council; have violated the laws in effect in our country; have failed any course in their curriculum; or have failed their monographic course or special project.
—Students transferring from other universities must have completed 60% of their credits at this University and must not have failed courses at their prior university to qualify for honors.
Tutorials
A special enrollment arrangement established by the University to serve students in the following cases:
—When the courses the student needs are not offered in the regular programs of that cycle.
—If only one course is offered regularly, the student may request one via tutorial; if none is offered, up to two may be taken via tutorial.
—If three courses remain to complete the curriculum and only one is offered regularly, the other two may be taken via tutorial, whenever possible.
—Approval of a tutorial requires prior coordination with the Registration Directorate and the relevant Program/Academic Department, based on course complexity.
—The Program/Department Directorate must inform the Academic Vice-Rectory or campus Academic Coordinators, in writing, of courses approved via tutorial and the assigned professor.
Glossary of Terms
Accreditation
The process by which WTU, based on a self-assessment and the judgment of the national and/or international academic community, provides society with assurance of the high quality of its academic programs. For educational institutions worldwide, accreditation is a quality-control system ensuring institutions meet specific operational and intellectual requirements.
What is accreditation of educational institutions?
The official recognition granted to a program or institution following an evaluation against established criteria, verifying whether the institution meets the requirements to provide quality education — evaluating administrative operations, faculty qualifications, infrastructure, and curriculum.
The value of educational accreditation
For students, it guarantees that their degree or certification has value and is accepted by employers and other academic institutions. Many countries and regions require accreditation before institutions may grant degrees.
Different forms of institutional accreditation
Institutional accreditation evaluates the institution as a whole; program accreditation focuses on specific programs to ensure they meet sector-specific criteria. Both are essential for universities seeking to offer authentic, complete education.
Admitted
An applicant who obtained one of the spots offered by the University after meeting all admission requirements for the program applied to.
Academic areas
Areas that may be organized within academic units and are not part of the University's academic-administrative structure. The Faculty Council defines them and designates a coordinator.
Administrative area
The organizational structure — hierarchy, competencies, and functions — of administrative units so they support and cooperate with academic units on shared activities.
Field of knowledge
All academic programs fall into one of eight fields: Agronomy and veterinary medicine; Fine arts; Education sciences; Health sciences; Social and human sciences; Economics, administration, accounting; Engineering, architecture, urban planning; Mathematics and natural sciences.
Association
The University recognizes internal staff's right to associate and form organizations, study groups, and work teams for research, extension, cultural, sports, and recreational activities.
Self-assessment
Self-assessment, scientific and pedagogical updating, continuous quality improvement, and social relevance of university programs are ongoing tasks and part of the accreditation process.
Autonomy
The right to prepare its statutes; appoint its authorities; create and develop academic programs; define its policies; grant degrees; select professors and employees; admit students; and allocate resources to fulfill its social mission.
University wellbeing
Each staff member is responsible for their own wellbeing so it radiates outward, fostering interactions across the University that benefit the wellbeing of the whole community.
Policies (wellbeing)
The Institution encourages and supports initiatives that favor human growth, offering programs aimed at intellectual, emotional, academic, spiritual, social, and physical development.
Professional technical institutions
Institutions legally authorized to offer training programs in operational and instrumental occupations and specializations, without neglecting humanistic aspects.
Technological institutions
Higher-education institutions built on technology, offering asynchronous programs using internet resources. WTU offers short-cycle 'Allied' occupational-training programs and academic programs in humanistic and theological disciplines at Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral levels.
Universities
Institutions that demonstrate universality in scientific and technological research, academic training in professions or disciplines, and the production, development, and transmission of knowledge and culture.
Academic corporations
Bodies the Superior Council may create to operate outside the Faculties, carrying out interdisciplinary work spanning several Faculties and research in partnership with national or international entities.
Spots (Cupos)
The institution's capacity to meet enrollment demand for a given virtual academic program.
Due process
The Institution exercises its disciplinary function through due process, considering the nature of the offense, its harmfulness, legality, and proportionality between the sanction and the offense.
Deans
The Rector's representative in a Faculty, appointed for three-year terms. Requirements: full civil/professional standing, no serious criminal or disciplinary sanctions, a university degree, at least three years as a professor, and two years of administrative experience.
Teaching dedication
The work time a teacher devotes to the institution. A full-time teacher works 40 hours weekly; 15–28 hours is part-time; at least 10 lecture hours per week is an adjunct/lecturing teacher.
Weekly dedication of an adjunct professor
Total contracted hours in the academic term, divided by the number of weeks in the academic period.
Academic department
A Faculty unit offering degree or specialization programs, service courses, or specific activities such as practicums, headed by a director advised by a committee.
University right of petition
Any person or group belonging to the university community may submit requests to University authorities and is entitled to a prompt, adequate response.
Dropout
The number of students who did not complete an academic period or did not re-enroll the following period. Only one cause of dropout is recorded per student.
Teaching
Grounded in research, teaching trains students in their disciplinary and professional fields through curricular programs and pedagogical methods furthering the University's ethical and academic goals.
Adjunct professor (Docente de Cátedra)
A professional affiliated with the university for at least ten hours per week of lecturing. Not on the tenure track; pay and benefits are governed by contractual terms agreed in each case.
Tenured/staff professor (Docente de Planta)
A professor affiliated by appointment resolution and rank, requiring at minimum a validated university degree, following an internal merit-based selection. Full-time dedication is 40 hours weekly.
Occasional/temporary professor
A person hired temporarily, full- or part-time, for teaching, research, or extension per service needs. Not on the tenure track.
Full-Time-Equivalent teachers dedicated to research
A mathematical reduction of institutional research time into a number expressing how many full-time research teachers that time represents. Terms are standardized at 16 weeks / 35 hours per week.
Higher education
Higher education promotes knowledge and the reaffirmation of individual values, expands opportunities for cultural creation, and incorporates individuals into the benefits of artistic, scientific, and technological development.
Graduates/Alumni (Egresados)
A person who was enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate WTU program, completed their studies, and obtained the corresponding degree.
School (Escuela)
A unit whose essential function is professional development, grounded in applied research, with Master's, Doctoral, or postdoctoral programs, headed by a director advised by a committee.
Student
A natural person with a current enrollment in a WTU academic program, admitted and properly enrolled per University requirements.
Academic Excellence (standard)
University professors and students pursue their work to standards of academic and scientific excellence, seeking the highest levels of knowledge.
Extension (Extensión)
The University's permanent, direct relationship with society in both directions, through artistic, scientific, technical, and technological activities, consulting, and dissemination of knowledge.
Faculty
The basic academic-administrative unit of WTU, with autonomy to organize itself, manage resources, and coordinate research, teaching, and extension. Led by the Dean and the Faculty Council.
Graduate (Graduado)
An alumnus who, having met the academic requirements (exams, monographs, thesis, etc.), has received their degree.
Registered applicant (Inscrito)
A person who meets all requirements at the registration stage to be accepted as an applicant to any University program.
Interdisciplinarity
Academic research, teaching, and extension activities address problems from an interdisciplinary perspective, fostering cooperation and reciprocal development.
Research (Investigación)
A source of knowledge that generates and supports teaching, aimed at generating and verifying knowledge for scientific development and technology adaptation.
Freedom of teaching and learning
The professor's discretion to present knowledge within a minimum programmatic content approved by the Faculty, summarized in a course guide delivered on the first day of class.
Research books
Products of research activity that fully develop a topic with theoretical grounding and academic methodology, published with an assigned ISBN.
Textbooks
Books produced for a pedagogical purpose, recognized as such based on their orientation toward the teaching-learning process.
Call/round (Llamado)
A consecutive number indicating the stage at which an applicant was selected in the admissions process.
Total first-course enrollment
All students enrolled in a program's first academic term, including degree-seeking students, repeaters, transfers, and reinstatements.
Study methodology and schedule
Programs may be In-Person Day Schedule (roughly 7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.), Evening Schedule (after 6:00 p.m.), or Not In-Person / Virtual. WTU delivers all its classes in real time.
Educational modality
The field of action and training purpose of programs by level: Undergraduate, Professional Technical, Technological, University, Professional Technical Specialization, and Technological Specialization.
Graduate level
Graduate programs are classified as: Specialization, Master's, or Doctorate.
Regulatory framework (Normatividad)
Internal rules that define the conditions for the University's proper functioning and generate rights and responsibilities.
Available undergraduate spots
The real capacity to serve students at the time of analysis, determined by infrastructure and academic planning.
FTE teachers dedicated to extension
An arithmetic reduction of institutional extension-work time into a number expressing equivalent full-time teachers. Terms are standardized at 15 weeks / 35 hours per week.
FTE teachers including adjunct faculty
A standardized way of expressing total professor time dedicated to the University, based on total contracted hours including adjunct faculty.
Option (Opción)
New undergraduate applicants may apply to two programs and must decide which is first and second choice; first-choice applicants are selected before second-choice applicants.
Participation
University community members have the right to participate, individually or collectively, in institutional life through mechanisms set out in University rules.
Academic period
The time interval corresponding to an academic term. A year generally has two to three academic periods: January–April; May–June and August; September–December.
Administrative staff
All persons affiliated for non-teaching duties, classified by job level: Executives/Directors, Professional, Auxiliary, and Services.
Planning
The University is governed by a general development plan plus specific plans for each academic unit, with a qualified management-evaluation procedure.
Teaching positions (Plazas Docentes)
The number of job positions defined for teaching activities in each asynchronous program. One person may hold more than one teaching position.
New entrants
Applicants admitted for the first time who begin their academic training in a program's first term, without being repeaters or transfers.
Professors
A person appointed or hired to carry out research, teaching, extension, and academic-administration activities, assigned to a Faculty unit under its Dean.
Academic program
The set of courses and activities providing higher-level training in a field of knowledge, under a specific modality, methodology, and schedule.
Programs for accreditation
A program that has undergone self-assessment and external-evaluation phases and awaits the final accreditation recommendation.
Score/pay scale (Puntaje)
The methodology for setting the pay scale for teaching staff, based on salary points reflecting degrees held, rank, experience, and academic productivity.