Alternative Healthcare, Intuitive Counseling Education, Spirituality Studies

Governance Components

Holos University Graduate Seminary is an official graduate school of the All Faiths Church of Spirituality and Health and operates in compliance with the laws of the State of Missouri. HU is a “named division” of the Church and has its own independent, self-perpetuating Academic Board of Directors. The Church Board and the HU Board hold quarterly meetings to discuss issues related to HU. The Fall meeting is held in September a the beginning of Campus Week in a Conference room at Unity Village. The December and March meetings are held by telephone conference. The June meeting is an all day Board Retreat. All decisions are made using the consensus process. The separate Boards may convene additional conference call meetings as needed to carry out business. HU encourages the organization and effective operation of governance bodies at all levels of its community. As these groups form, they are strongly encouraged to develop and publish specific charters that spell out clearly their goals and objectives.
Non-Discrimination Policy
Consistent with its holistic spiritual philosophy, it is the policy of Holos University to practice non-discrimination in all of its interactions. Holos University Graduate Seminary does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, religious affiliation, physical ability, veteran status, political affiliation, marital status, parental status, age or sexual orientation, whether in admissions policies, employment, engaging the services of independent contractors, or in any other Holos University-affiliated event or project.
Programmatic Accreditation
Accrediting agencies that are registered with the Department of Education do not, in general, accredit the academic programs offered by an institution. Rather they are concerned with institutional administrative policies and procedures. Thus, they normally suggest to a college or university that their various distinctive programs each have their own separate programmatic accreditation through another agency.

Accreditation
     HU's Official Catalog is submitted for annual review to the Missouri Board of Higher Education, renewing HU's right to indicate that the university continues to operate in accordance with the laws of the State of Missouri. Missouri does not provide accreditation as such.
Holos University has been granted programmatic accreditation from the New Thought Accreditation Commission (NTAC) http://www.newthoughtac.org
This accreditation involved an assessment of its programs in regards to educational quality, faculty standards, and outcomes measures. An NTAC review team made up of experts in the field of accreditation visited HU in 2006 as part of this thorough review. NTAC is actively seeking recognition by the US Department of Education (USDE). It is recognition by the Department of Education that guarantees enrolled students the availability of student loans.

All Faiths Church of Spirituality and Health, Inc. Board of Directors (Church). (abbr: Corporation Board) This board represents the official corporation. On June 4th, 2010 the Church received its status as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation. The Article of Amendment concerning this status declares that, in part, the church “is a public benefit corporation the specific purpose for which is to be a church and religious college. The corporation is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes.”    The Corporation Board holds the fiduciary responsibility for both the Church and its DBA (Doing Business As) college, Holos University Graduate Seminary. Thus the Corporation Board has oversight of all official contracts and of budgetary planning for both the Church and the University. This includes determining the monetary amounts and payment arrangements of staff salaries and of contractual administrative supplements. It approves major outside contracts arranged for by the Executive Committee, such as the arrangement for the rooms and services for Campus Week activities at Unity Village. The Corporation Board approves candidates for ordination. Both the Executive Committee and the HU Board are charged with maintaining compatible and complementary views of theology and mission with those held by the Church. Although policies and academic programs will be maintained and directly overseen by the Executive Committee and the HU Board respectively, the Church retains the authority to insure that the programs and policies of HU reflect the Church’s overarching theological tenets. Therefore, the Executive Committee submits to the Church Board for review: The most current Official Seminary Catalog, Student Handbook and Faculty Handbook. The website will be kept compatible with the most current Official Catalog. The Church reviews the website and may offer suggestions for additions or changes. It must be clearly understood that HU does not officially endorse, recommend, or discourage ordination in any one specific church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or other religious group. Both the Church and HU honor the rights of all religious organizations to apply whatever criteria they choose as to whom they ordain. As in the case of membership in a church, ordination is not a prerequisite for being a student, staff member, administrator, or professor at HU   The Church sets ordination policies.

Corporation Board Members are charged with being informed about the policies of the Seminary – particularly those that deal with fees and tuition and the annual budget. The Board meets quarterly in September, December, March, and June. Each Board member is expected to review both the quarterly Quick Books financial reports generated by the Bursar, and the current HU Academic Catalog. This review will provide a sound over-all view of the Seminary’s current programs and policies and its current financial health. The March meeting will be a one-day Planning Retreat with both Boards present.
The Corporation Board acts on financial recommendations made by the universities Executive Committee and the university’s Academic Board.
Holos University Graduate Seminary Academic Board of Directors (abbr: HU Academic Board) The Academic Board establishes and oversees the academic policies that support the curriculum and Mission of the university. The Academics Board receives complete financial reports from the Corporation and may consider this financial information when making academic decisions for the seminary. Board members are familiar with the history and current format of all aspects of the academic program. The Academic Board receives and acts on recommendations made by both the Curriculum Committee and the Executive Committee. Board members commit to the following:

The HU Academic Board meets quarterly in September, December, March, and June. An annual calendar is published in September of each year. The September meeting aligns with the Campus Week. It is held the Saturday before the graduation ceremony. The March meeting will be a one-day Planning Retreat with both Boards present. Board members within the Kansas City area are expected to attend the annual Fall Graduation/Ordination ceremonies. Board members commit to be familiar with and have a working knowledge of:
•    The academic programs of the Seminary this includes: The requirements for the basic Masters, Doctoral, Post-Doctoral programs.
•    The curriculum requirements for each of the Special Emphasis Tracks.
•    The policies concerning Transfers and Equivalencies
•    Pre-Designated Equivalency Credits. These credits are arranged with other institutions whose curriculum is especially relevant to the curriculum at HU.
•    The information available on the HU Website. www.holosuniversity.org (Board members are welcome to attend an OPEN HOUSE session for a review of the website.)
•    The dissertations posted on www.holouniversity.net
•    The balance of the curriculum as it relates to Spirituality and Health.
•    The “core” courses and their formats and requirements as presented in their syllabi. These courses are designated by 700 numbers.
In addition, Board members are encouraged to offer their time by being a Board representative on one of the HU Committees – such as the Admissions and Outreach Committee or the Curriculum Committee. They might also work on energizing the Alumni Association or reviewing documents such as the Policies and Procedures Manual.
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee functions as the day-to-day operational center of HU and serves at the pleasure of the HU Academic Board of Directors and the Board of Directors of the All Faiths Church of Spirituality and Health. Each member of the Executive Committee has daily administrative functions implementing policies and procedures, working specifically with faculty, students, the Registrar and the Bursar. The Bursar sends the Executive Committee monthly financial statements for monthly executive review and quarterly financial statements for review at both quarterly board meetings. The Executive Committee makes recommendations to and works with both the Church Board and the HU Academic Board to coordinate policies that have both academic and financial implications.
The Executive Committee, as well as the HU Board, can propose replacements to fill the executive positions of President, Provost, and the Dean, but all changes and appointments must be reviewed and ratified by the HU Board. Such appointments or changes in the composure of the Executive Committee become official once approved by the Church Board.
Notes from the weekly Executive Committee meetings are forwarded to the President of the Church Board and the Chairs of the Academic Board to keep them apprised of any changes and developments in the policies and procedures of HU.
Director of Admissions and Outreach (DAO)
The DAO ideally holds or is working on a doctorate and has a degree or experience in marketing. The Director is thoroughly familiar with HU’s Catalog, and all policies and procedures governing HU’s graduate programs.
The DAO position was officially established by the Executive Committee the May 2, 2012. The decision to create this directorship was based upon the current need to establish a procedure for reaching out to and admitting new students using a composit approach that is internally consistent and seamless. It was determined that, when working with prospective students, there be one designated advisor who guides that student through the entire initial advising process, including the submission of admissions documents. Thus, the DAO is charged with the following responsibilities:
•    To addresses prospective student inquiries and concerns about graduate and certificate program possibilities,
•    To work with prospective students to draft a tentative program (PSF) and,
•    To assist prospective students to prepare and submit to the Registrar all required entry documents.

The Director of Admissions and Outreach (DAO) works under the Executive Committee generally and the Dean of Academics, specifically, and is responsible to the Registrar to assure that all policy and admissions procedures are fulfilled and that any exceptions made by the Executive Committee are documented in writing.
    The DAO coordinates all outreach and admissions, and, as such, carries out the following tasks:
•    Acts as the official contact and advisor for all prospective students who express interest in certificate and/or graduate programs.
o    Works with prospective students to create a Draft PSF and, once the student has been admitted to a certificate or graduate program, works with the Registrar to finalize these drafts into an official PSF for each new entering student.
o    Works with prospective students to facilitate the submission of required admission documents. The DAO works with the student and the Registrar to assure that all the required documents have been received in the HU office.
•    Interacts with the Data Base manager to build an outreach and admissions data base.
•    Oversees Outreach committee meetings and coordinates strategic planning.
•    Arranges for marketing booths at strategic meetings and either hosts the booths personally or arranges for other well-informed persons to host the booths
•    Hosts, with the Dean of Academics, the Open House conference sessions for prospective students.
•    Is present at strategic meetings of groups whose membership might be interested in the HU Program.
Admitting Officer (AO)
The Admitting Officer serves on the Admissions Committee, along with the Registrar and the DAO to coordinate the following aspects of the admissions process:
•    Evaluates all transfers and equivalencies
•    Insures and verifies that all necessary admission documents are in place
•    Approves and signs the final official admissions document.
This position is currently being filled by the President of HU.
Advising Officer
The Advising Officer is responsible for working with students during enrollment periods to ensure that their PSF (Program Schedule Form) is up to date and correct. This position is currently being filled by the President of HU
Charitable Contributions
As a DBA of the All Faiths Church of Spirituality and Health, Holos University accepts tax deductable charitable contributions through the church's 501(c)(3) corporation. HU encourages tax-deductible contributions to support its various programs. Of greatest value are those funds that are undesignated; they permit the university to apply funds towards the greatest need at the time. However, funds specifically for the support of student loans, special research projects, outreach, or for virtually any major development in Body/Mind/Spirit healing are welcomed. Year-end fundraising campaigns are also conducted. For information on how to donate funds, contact the Dean of Academics. Dean@HolosUniversity.org