Academic Life

MESSIAH–TEMPLE RELATIONSHIP
Messiah College and Temple University share a long-established relationship since the campus' inception in 1968. The Program Director of the Messiah College–Philadelphia Campus is responsible for maintaining this arrangement and working out the various operational details with Temple administrators as needs arise.Students need to be aware of their rights and limitations under the Messiah-Temple agreement and should consult the Program Director or the Recruitment Coordinator with any questions.

Messiah College-Philadelpiha Campus students are considered full-time, non-matriculated students of Temple University by virtue of their status as Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus students. Temple admissions and financial aid policies and procedures do not apply whereas all other Temple academic policies regarding grading, class attendance, academic dishonesty, etc., do apply. Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus students are afforded all rights and privilegesof regular full-time students EXCEPT participation in intercollegiate sports and, in most cases, eligibility for Temple graduation honors and academic awards. A Temple ID card allows access to all facilities and services available to Temple students.

Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus students still retain their status as fulltime, matriculated students of Messiah College (“matriculated” meaning enrollment in an official academic program of Messiah College and working toward a degree.) Financial Aid continues to be channeled through Messiah
College. Dismissal from Messiah College for any reason results in an automatic withdrawl from Temple University.

TEMPLE STUDENT SERVICES
•Temple University ID
Location: Mitten Hall, Second Floor (Broad & Berks Mall.)
•GAF Card—Enables students to access extra-curricular student activities
at Temple such as sports games and theater productions. At orientation, all students receive GAF cards.
Location: Student Activities Center, 13th & Montgomery Ave.
•The IBC—Temple’s Recreation Center. The Independent Blue Cross Student Recreation Center is equipped with a full-size gymnasium, padded indoor track, locker rooms with saunas, racquetball courts, weight-training rooms, a dance studio, and more. It also offers exercise classes (from pop dance aerobics to relaxing yoga) and recreational sports teams. For moreinformation and hours of operation, visit the website
Location: 15th and Cecil B. Mooretm
•Health Services—Temple’s Health Center is available for your needs,
including counseling. See here for more details.
•Student Activities Center (SAC)—bookstore, post office, parking services, eating facilities etc.
Location: Student Activities Center,13th & Montgomery Avenue

MESSIAH ACADEMIC SERVICES

Enrollment Bulletin Board
Students should use the bulletin board outside the enrollment office in
the 2026 building as a reference for questions about Temple’s academic
information while any additional questions can be directed to the Recruitment Coordinator.

Adding/Dropping a Course at Temple University
During Orientation the Recruitment Coordinator hands out individual Temple University PIN numbers to each student. Students use these PIN numbers to:

1. Make changes to their schedules
2. Check their grades at the end of the semester on Temple’s OwlNet online system
3. Register for classes at Temple University if they are remaining on campus in future semesters.
To add or drop a course at Temple University during the first two weeks of classes, first attempt adding or dropping using this PIN number. Refer to the front pages of the Schedule of Classes (copies on bulletin board) for instructions on how to use both telephone and online registration. If you are successful, then fill out a Temple University Registration/Schedule Revision form and turn it into the enrollment office. Please remember to consult with your advisor before you make schedule changes. If you are unsuccessful using your PIN number or have difficulty making changes, then fill out a Temple University Schedule Revision Card (in the enrollment office). The director of enrollment or other enrollment staff will make changes for you.


Special Authorization
If the desired Temple course requires Special Authorization (SA) then the student must get a Special Authorization card from the enrollment office. The card, as well as Registation/Schedule Revision card should be returned to the enrollment office with all the appropriate signatures.
Ex: A communication major wants to take a journalism course— Temple departments often code their classes for majors only and thus non-majors who want to take the class need to get SA from the professor to take the class.

Receiving Closed Course Section Approval
If the desired course is CLOSED, students should ask the professor if he or she will allow students into the class. Upon agreement, request a signed Closed Section Approval or Green Card. These cards are kept by professors and their departments. The Enrollment Office at the Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus cannot provide these cards. Bring the green card and a Temple University Schedule Revision form to the enrollment office and the Recruitment Coordinator will register the student in the course.

Adding/Dropping Messiah Courses
To add or drop a course taken at the Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus fill out the Messiah College add/drop form and return it to the Enrollment Office.

ADD/DROP or Withdrawal Schedule at Temple
This information is found in the schedule of classes booklet or posted on the bulletin board outside the enrollment office. Classes can be added and dropped as often as necessary during the first week of classes without any charge. After this week, there is a $12 schedule revison charge each day changes are made.

Payment of Bills
Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus student pay tuiton to Messiah exclusively with all Temple bills forwarded to Messiah with the exception of Special course and Temple Fees.

Special Temple Fees
Some courses at Temple have special fees attached to them that are above and beyond what your tuition covers. Students should review the schedule of classes booklet for a list of these classes. Students will also find a list posted on the bulletin board outside the enrollment office. Students must pay for these fees if they fall under the following guidelines:

1. Private Music Lessons
2. Fees for courses involving travel, such as the Tropical Marine Biology course which has a $1,000 course fee, or the Latin American Studies Program (LASS)
3. Course fees $150+, which have a logical connection to outside facilities (golfing, skiing, scuba, etc.)
4.Classes at Temple’s Satellite Campuses---Most students will take courses at Temple’s Main Campus. However, if students are scheduled for a class at Ambler, Fort Washington, Center City, or Tyler, they should contact the enrollment office for information regarding shuttle bus transportation to the campuses.

Course Fees
Some Temple courses have special fees, which are charged to your student account. Such fees will be passed on to you on your Messiah bill, though they will probably not appear on your bill until very late in the semester. Please be prepared for these charges so that the added late entries on your student account are no surprise to you!

MESSIAH ACADEMIC POLICIES
Each student is responsible for his/her own progress toward the desired major and degree. Advisors and other administrators provide advice and attempt to direct students toward their stated goals through policies and procedures. Attendance at the Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus can complicate academic planning since students are dealing with two institutions and three campuses. Therefore, special care and attention must be given by Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus students to meeting general education requirements, major requirements, and the various graduation requirements. A review of the College catalog and conscientious reading of newsletters and other official announcements should ensure smooth progress to a timely graduation. Do not expect exceptions to be made to graduation requirements “after-the-fact” for any reason. Always anticipate conflicts and exceptions and request appropriate actions prior to missing a requirement or violating an academic policy. The Recruitment Coordinator can explain courses of action open to you in such situations.

Enrichment Majors
Students enrolled in majors that meet Messiah major requirements are considered Enrichment majors. They are not meeting Temple major requirements even if they are required to spend one semester at the Philadelphia Campus.

Enrichment Limit
Enrichment majors are limited to two semesters at the Messiah College– Philadelphia Campus. Students may extend this limit with their Messiah advisor’s consent and their department’s approval. A form for this purpose, Application for Enrichment Extension, is available from the Enrollment Office.

Philadelphia Majors: Students enrolled in a major that meets Temple University’s major requirements are considered Philadelphia majors. They meet Messiah’s General Education and general graduation requirements.

30-Hour Rule
The last thirty credits preceding the conferring of the degree must be earned at Messiah College. Any courses includint Temple courses taken while enrolled as a Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus student count toward this requirement.

January Term
Second semester MessiahCollege–Philadelphia Campus students may not participate in January Term courses (travel, Philadelphia or Grantham Campus) due to calendar conflicts with Temple’s schedule.

Summer Study
Students planning to attend any other colleges or universities over the summer need to obtain the Application for Off-Campus Study from the Enrollment Office and then send it to their advisor for approval. The advisor should be asked to forward it to the Registrar. This will assure transfer of credit back to Messiah. Students in Philadelphia Campus majors (excluding required majors) need not execute this form for Temple summer school unless taking Temple courses to meet General Education requirements. Be sure to consider the impact of your off-campus study on the College’s 30-hour rule described above.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT
There are a variety of channels open to students who want to target and pursue careers while at the Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus. The Career Center at Main Campus and the Career Services Office at Temple are sources of help for career counseling, preparing a credential file, and establishing co-ops and internships.

Additionally, the Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus contextual education coordinator is an invaluable resource for researching or setting upinternship opportunities for students at the Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus.

LIBRARY
The Messiah College–Philadelphia Campus library, located in the 2024 building is intended only to accent the tremendous resources of Paley Library at Temple. Paley, along with Temple’s various departmental libraries, is available through the use of a Temple ID. Messiah College–Philadelphia Campus books are included in the College’s online catalog. To check out a book, students should see the Receptionist or the SLC on-duty. Students returning books to the library should return them to the Receptionist to be reshelved.

The library is available for general study during non-class or nonofficial meeting times. The library is a place of strictly quiet study, primarily for the use of those who need reference materials. Students who need an environment offering group study or periodical social interaction should use either the lounge or the cafeteria.

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