Thirty three in SVOTS Class of 2020 – Seminary Plans Reopening in the Fall
SVOTS – 28/5/2020
[SVOTS Communications / YONKERS, NY] The 2019-2020 academic year has concluded at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS), and plans are in place to reopen the Seminary in the fall for the next academic year.
A total of 33 students make up the Class of 2020. Most have completed their degrees (a few are expected to complete degrees over the summer)—19 Master of Divinity; 11 Master of Arts; 2 Master of Theology; 1 Doctor of Ministry. Another 7 students, who are officially part of the Class of 2019, also finished their degrees during this academic year. Most are bound for parishes, some for further academic study, others for chaplaincy, and still others for education.
The graduates’ jurisdictional breakdown was quite diverse and reflected St. Vladimir’s commitment to pan-Orthodoxy. There were a total of 9 from the Orthodox Church in America (OCA); 5 from the Antiochian Archdiocese; 3 Armenian; 1 Anglican; 3 Coptic; 2 Malankara Jacobite; 1 Syriac Orthodox Church (Kyanaya); 1 Malankara Orthodox Syrian; 2 Patriarchate of Alexandria; 1 Romanian Patriarchate; 3 Serbian; and 1 Georgian. Another graduate is unaffiliated.
The Class of 2020 completed their studies with distance learning and online coursework, but the Seminary plans to begin the 2020-2021 academic year as normal with on-campus classes. The school has alternate plans if a full reopening is delayed due to further COVID-19 restrictions in New York State. For now, the Seminary is asking incoming and returning students to prepare to be on campus in time for the start of the new school year. Orientation for the new academic year is scheduled for Friday, August 21 through Sunday, August 23.
Delayed Commencement Exercises for the Class of 2020 are planned for September 12. If these plans change, the Seminary will announce alternate plans for the 2020-2021 academic year and 2020 Commencement by mid-July.
Additionally, SVOTS has extended its late deadline to apply for admission for 2020-2021 to July 1, 2020. The extension was made to allow prospective students from North America and abroad more time given ongoing uncertainty and logistical difficulties due to the COVID-19 crisis.
The Seminary has moved to an online, cloud-based admissions system. The entire application process is handled online, and applicants are not required to visit campus at any time during that process. Visit SVOTS.edu/admissions to learn more.
