Protocol as addendum to the Faculty Regulations for the Doctoral Examination with Dissertation, Art. 1 Admission to the Doctoral Programme
This protocol aims to clarify the procedure used by the Doctoral Committee as of the academic year 2004-2005 for the admission of students to the Doctoral Programme. It strives for (a) transparency with regard to the decision-making, (b) on the basis of as much information as possible, (c) with a minimum of administration, and (d) with respect for the measure of freedom assigned to the Doctoral Committee in the Doctoral Regulations. The general minimum requirements, namely, the completion of the second cycle of Theology (minimum five years) with a minimum average of cum laude and the attainment of at least 75 % for the Research Paper, or a comparable project, are necessary but not entirely sufficient conditions for admission. 1. During the examination periods of June and September, and at the latest one week before the admissions meeting of the Doctoral Committee, the Chair of the Doctoral Committee will request that the administrative assistant responsible for the Doctoral Programme forward a general message to all the members of the tenured academic personnel containing the following questions: This mail will also mention that if the member of the tenured academic personnel chooses not to respond to this mail, the Doctoral Committee will conclude that the decision with regard to this/these fifth year student/s will be left completely to the Doctoral Committee. In addition the member of the tenured academic personnel will be notified that the Chair, if necessary, will contact him/her for additional information on the afternoon after the deliberation. For this reason the member of the tenured academic personnel will be kindly requested to supply the Chair with a telephone number where he/she can be reached on the Thursday afternoon after the deliberation. 2. The Chair of the Doctoral Committee will contact the promoter and, if necessary, the co-promoter and/or correctors with regard to all those cases where discussion is likely to arise (both with regard to the examination results, as with regard to the opinion of the promoter and, if necessary, the co-promoter and/or correctors) before the admissions meeting of the Doctoral Committee takes place. To ensure that there is enough time for these preliminary contacts, the admissions meeting of the Doctoral Committee will take place a day later (on Friday morning instead of on Thursday afternoon after the deliberation). The promoter will be invited to the admissions meeting. This invitation may be issued by the Doctoral Committee, but the promoter may also make a personal request to be present. 3. At the meeting, the Chair will present all the collected and available information for discussion. A secret vote will be organised if, after careful examination of all the information, the candidate is deemed to deviate from the necessary conditions, or if there is discussion regarding the admission of a candidate, or at the simple request of one of the members of the Doctoral Committee. The candidate who receives more than half of the votes cast is admitted. Those entitled to vote are as follows: the Chair and the Secretary of the Doctoral Committee, the five chairs of the research Departments, and the Chair of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Religious Studies. For the vote to be valid, at least half plus one of those eligible to vote need to be present. 4. In case of a dispute with regard to the decision of the Doctoral Committee, the candidate can appeal, after consultation with the ombudsperson, to the Faculty Bureau. The Faculty Bureau will also decide by means of a secret vote, after having examined all the information and arguments of the candidate, the promoter (and, if necessary, co-promoter) and the Doctoral Committee. The candidate who receives more than half of the votes cast is admitted. Approved by the Faculty Bureau on February 14, 2005, and by the Faculty Council on February 18, 2005
- Are you of the opinion that your fifth year student/s, graduating this examination session, are capable of completing the Doctoral Programme?
- Are you willing to act as promoter for these student/s, should they receive admission to the Doctoral Programme?
- Are there any facts/matters which you wish to bring to the attention of the Doctoral Committee with regard to your fifth year student(s), and/or with regard to students for whom you have acted as corrector, and who are graduating this examination session?
