Bylaws for Offering Fields of Study/Majors

Legislation 640- By-laws for approval and granting of permits for offering fields of study/majors and related emphases at seminary schools.

 

Preface: In order to implement article 3, section 5 of legislation 427 of the Supreme Council, the topic of the rights and responsibilities of the Expansion Council (“by-laws for approval and granting of permits for offering courses of study and specializations at seminary schools”) has been codified here. For brevity, the “Supreme Council of the Seminary” will be referred to as the “Supreme Council” and the “Expansion Council of the Seminary” will be called the “Expansion Council” in these by-laws.

Article 1. In these by-laws, the following expressions and definitions have been used:

1.      Applicant for offering a field of study/major: An education or research institute that receives a permit for activity from the Expansion Council and is active within the framework of the laws and criteria of this council; or one that is registered with other legal authorities and has received a permit from the Expansion Council to offer seminary education.

2.      Approval of a field of study/major: Approval of the general outline, course schedules, and course topics of a major or emphasis.

3.      Field of study/major: One of the branches of Islamic sciences and education or fields required for the Seminary that is on a subject different from other subjects and leads to a specific and defined proficiency.

4.      Emphasis: A specialized orientation in a field of study/major.

5.      Implementation: The entire process matriculation-from acceptance to graduation-of seminary students.

6.      Suspension of implementation of the field of study/major: Suspension of enrollment in a particular field or emphasis of study for a defined period of time.

7.      Revocation of implementation of the field of study/major: Suspension of enrollment in a particular field or emphasis of study. Renewed enrollment in this field or emphasis will require repeating the process of obtaining a permit for implementation.

Article 2. Applications for approval and implementation of the major will at first be sent to the secretariat of the Expansion Council. It will then be forwarded to the management centers for expert analysis based on the policies and criteria of the Expansion Council.  The results, after analysis in expert committees of the Expansion Council and final considerations, will be presented to the Expansion Council for approval.

Article 3. The difference in the number of units of two emphases from one major must be according to the following:

1.      At least 20 percent and at most 40 percent of the units of specialized courses (not counting the final thesis) at level three.

2.      At least 30 percent and at most 50 percent of the units of specialized courses (not counting the final thesis) at level four.

Article 4. Approval of major or emphasis will take place in two stages:

1.      Approval of the general outline and course schedules for the major or emphasis.

2.      Approval of the detailed outline, topics, and course sources for the major or emphasis.

Article 5.  The general outline and course schedules of the requested major or emphasis must be approved by the Supreme Council after receiving approval from the Expansion Council.

Article 6. After approval of the general outline and course schedules for the major or emphasis, the detailed outline, topics, and course sources for the major or emphasis must be approved by the Expansion Council or an authority specified by the Expansion Council.

Article 7. The applicant must meet the following criteria:

1.      Having an adequate faculty [for the field of study].

2.      Having the necessary physical space and facilities.

3.      Having the financial resources and the necessary support.

Article 8. If the conditions are met, the Expansion Council will issue a permit for a one-time admission in the major or emphasis.

Clause 1. For the first year of activity, implementation of a maximum of one major and one emphasis (1) will be allowed in seminary specialization centers; and implementation of a maximum of two majors and to emphases (2) in the seminary institutions of higher education will be permitted.

Clause 2. In case the Expansion Council deems it necessary under [special] circumstances, in the first year of activity, seminary specialization centers may, in addition to the limit specified in clause 1, implement an extra emphasis (3) and seminary institutions of higher education may implement an extra major and emphasis (4).

Clause 3. During the period of the temporary permit of the seminary center, the permanent permit for implementing a major will not be granted. In case required conditions are met, the one-time enrollment permit may be renewed.

Article 9. The applicant for the next two years, must present his request for receiving a permit for continuous or limited enrollment for implementing a major to the Expansion Council.

Article 10. If the conditions are met after two years, the Expansion Council will agree with continuous or limited enrollment for the implementation of the major.

Article 11. Supervision of the implementation of majors and specialized emphases and their evaluation must be done continuously by the management centers in accordance with the proper by-laws and instructions. The Expansion Council, after considering the results of an evaluation, may decide upon renewing the related permit, converting a limited permit to a permanent one, or revoking the permit.

Article 12. Conditions for revoking the implementation of major or emphasis are the following:

1.      Lack of observance for the rules of the Supreme Council or the Expansion Council.

2.      Inability to provide sufficient quality in offering a major or emphasis.

3.      Recognition by the Expansion Council that there is no need for continued enrollment in a given major.

4.      Continued enrollment is no longer commensurate with the policies of the Supreme Council of the Expansion Council.

Article 13. In case conditions suggest a need for the revocation of the implementation of a major, the Expansion Council will order a suspension of enrollment until all outstanding issues are resolved.

Article 14. In case the issues for preventing enrollment are not resolved, the Expansion Council will act to revoke the permit for implementation of the major.

Clause. In case the permit to implement a major or emphasis is revoked, the affected education institution does not have the right to apply for implementation of that major or emphasis for two years.

Article 15. In case the Expansion Council objects to the continued implementation of a major or emphasis, management centers must arrange for the affected seminary students to transfer to other institutions without having to pass new entrance examinations. They must ensure that students are able to continue the same majors, or if the majors no longer exist, then similar majors.

Article 16. Changes or corrections to these by-laws are possible by recommendation from the Expansion Council and approval of the Supreme Council of the Seminary.

Clause. Related decrees will be issued by the expert committees of the                                                 Expansion Council.

Article 17. These by-laws, in 17 articles and 7 clauses, were approved by the Supreme Council of the Seminary on 26/7/1388 [10/18/2009].

Post-scripts:

1.      Meaning at most, the implementation of two education programs will be approved.

2.      Meaning at most, the implementation of four education programs will be approved.

3.      Therefore, seminary specialization centers may implement a maximum of three education programs in their first year.

4.      Therefore, seminary institute of higher education may implement a maximum of six education programs in their first year.

Director of the Supreme Council of the Seminary
Mohammad Yazdi