Rules of conduct

Rules Of Conduct For The Student Community
Called to be 'servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God' (1Cor. 4:1) we aspaire to be a community devoted to disciplined learning, spiritual practices and mutual care in the context of the liturgical life of the Malankara Orthodox Church.
The following are some of the basic rules for life in the Seminary. They are intended to help the students grow in Christian maturity under the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that they may be trained to serve the people of God as faithful ministers.

A typical day at the Seminary can be outlined as follows:
4.40 a.m. : Rising Bell
4.50 a.m. : Chapel Bell
5.00a.m. - 6.30 a.m. : Morning Prayers & Meditation
6.30 a.m. - 7.30 a.m. : Rest and Morning Ablutions
7.30 a.m. - 8.30 a.m. : First Study Hour
8.30 a.m. - 9.00 a.m. : Breakfast
9.00 a.m. - 9.30 a.m. : Break
9.30 a.m. - 12.20 p.m. : Classes (three classes, each of
  55 minutes duration)
12.30 p.m. - 12.45 p.m. : Sext
12.45 p.m. - 2.00 p.m. : Lunch, Rest and Relaxation
2.00 p. m. - 4.00 p.m. : Classes (two classes)
4.00 p.m. -4.30 p.m. : Tea Break
4.30 p.m. - 5.30 p.m. : Recreation/Squad Work
5.30 p.m. - 6.00 p.m. : Evening Ablutions
6.00 p.m. - 7.00 p.m. : Evening Prayers
7.00 p.m. - 8.00 p.m. : Second Study Hour
8.00 p.m. - 8.30 p.m. : Dinner
8.30 p.m. - 9.30 p.m. : Third Study Hour
9.30 p.m. - 9.45 p.m. : Night Prayers

The guidlines governing student participation in these events can be categorised as follows:

Chapel Services:
a) The chapel bell will ring ten minutes prior to the start of the various services (4.50 a.m., 12.20 p.m., 5.50 p.m., 9.20 p.m.). The student should proceed to the chapel after hearing the bell in worshipful silence.
b) Absolute silence is to be maintained in the chapel. Especially after Soothara (Compline: 9.30 p.m.)-silence should be maintained till the completion of morning prayers of the next day (6.30 a.m.).
c) Except for the noon prayers, all students are expected to be dressed in white.
d) The students should occupy the place assigned to them at the beginning of the academic year.
e) Participation in these services is compulsory for all students. If, for any reason the student cannot be present for a service, he must inform the Warden and provide the reason for his absence.
f) Turns allotted to students for the various services (Holy Qurbana, reading the Scriptures, Responses, and Censing etc.) are not to be exchanged with other students without the permission of the Warden.

Holy Qurbana
Holy Qurbanas are celebrated in the chapel on Wednesdays, Sundays and on all the important feast days. Participation in these Holy Qurbanas is also compulsory for all students. On Wednesdays the Holy Qurbanas will commence at 7.00 a.m. In order to
facilitate student participation in the various parish churches, Sunday morning prayers will commence at 4.30 a.m., consequently the rising bell on Sundays will be at 4.15 a.m.

III. Class Routine:
 The students are expected to observe the following rules during class hours (9.30 a.m. - 12.20 p.m. and 2.00 p.m.- 4.00 p.m.).

a) A bell will ring at 9.20 a.m. an 1.50 p.m. to indicate the approach of class hours.
b) A bell will sound at the commencement of each class and at the conclusion of each class hour.
c) If the student has to be absent from a class, he must inform the class teacher in advance and receive his permission, in addition to informing the Warden.
d) For extended leave, the student has to inform the Principal and receive his permission prior to leaving the Seminary.
e) In the event the class teacher is absent, the students are to go to the library and utilise the time to complete their assignments.
f) Frequent absence from the class will result in being barred from writing the semester examinations.
g) Under no circumstances is the student to be in his room during class hours, unless he is sick.

IV. Library:

The Library occupies an important place in the academic life of the students. Therefore it is appropriate that students are made aware of its  proper utilisation. The rules provided below are necessary to obtain the best use of the library facilities.

Library Rules
I. General Rules
1. The use of footwear is not permitted inside the library.
2. Complete silence is to be observed in the library.
3. All students are expected to be in the library during the library hours and free class hours. Late arrivals and early departure are to be avoided.
4. Utmost care should be taken while using the library books and furniture. Any damage caused to the books or furniture will have to be compensated for by the
students /concerned.
5. Please see that electricity is not at unnecessarily expended.
6. Personal belongings are not permitted into the library. They will have to be deposited in the space allotted for them.
7. Students need not replace books on the shelves in the stack room. All books taken from the shelves are to be placed either on an empty shelf/rack or on a side table. But books and Journals, in the Reference section should be replaced by the users after use.
8. Books will be issued to students only upon the presentation of their identity cards/Reader's card.
9. All users of the library will be subject to a security check while leaving the library.
10. No visitors will be allowed to enter the reference room and stack room without the permission from the library staff.

II. Library Hours
a. Reading and Reference Room
 7.30 a.m.-9.30 p.m. (except meal and prayer times)
b. Stack Room and Periodical Section
 9.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. (Week days)
 9.00 a.m. - 12.00 noon (Saturdays)

III. Circulation
1. Each student will be given ID Cards/Reader's Card at the time of admission. These cards are non-transferable and must be kept safe till the course is completed. Book lending and returning shall be done only through these cards.
2. Books from the stack room alone shall be checked out. These books /documents/journals etc will not be checked out from the Reference, Journal and Reserved sections.
3. Each book must be thoroughly checked by the student before taking it out of the library. Any damage noticed should be brought to the attention of the staff in charge at the circulation counter.
4. The maximum number of books allowed at a time for the different categories are fixed as follows.
a. Faculty Members 20 books
b. DTh Research
 ..........Students 15 books
 ...........Day 10 books
c. MTh Students/
 ...........Inmates 10 books
d. Day Scholars 5 books
e. BD Final Year Students 10 books
f. Other students 5 books
5. Books can be checked out only for 15 days
6. Checked out books must be returned on or before the due date.
7. A fine will be imposed on books returned late at the following-
 Rate for each book Rs. 2/- for the first week
Rs. 5/-for the second week.
and Rs. 10/- for the third week.

IV. Journals Reference and Reading Room
1. Books and Journals in the Reference and Reserved shelves should not be taken out.
2. Books and periodicals in the Reading Room are to be replaced in the same places by the users, before they leave.
3. Photocopying is generally not encouraged. Oversized books, bound volumes and others in this category will not be given out for photocopying. Special permission must be sought from the library staff for photocopying privileges.
4. If any book or periodical is damaged, this should be brought to the notice of the library staff prior to its use.
5. Bound volumes of Journals kept on the 3rd floor, should be used only at the tables provided there.
6. Newly arrived books will be issued only after one week's display.

VI. Archives/Micro-Film Library
1. These are sections in the library devoted to the storage and care of rare and historical documents. These documents/ books of fragile nature and hence restricted to the use of serious research scholars only.
2. The timings for the use of these sections will be 9.30 a.m.-4.00 p.m. only.
3. Prior permission will have to be obtained from the Librarian/Archivist for the use of these documents.
4. Research scholars, and other persons with accredited letters of introduction, and the serious nature of their work shall be allowed to use the catalogue of these holdings. Documents in fragile condition will not be available for use. Photocopying is not allowed.
5. Visitors will not be permitted to enter these sections. However, they can view speciments of these rare documents exhibited in the display cases.

V. Study Hours:

 Students are encouraged to make the best use of the three personal study hours scheduled during the course of day.
The following rules must be observed during these hours.
a) Students should be either in their rooms or in the library during the study hours.
b) No loitering or visiting other students will be permitted during these hours.
c) Study time is also scheduled for Saturday from 9.30 a.m. till 12.00 noon. Students are to spend this time in the library.
d) The doors of the rooms are to be kept open during the study hours.

VI. Mess Hall:
 The bell will mark the time for meals in the mess hall (breakfast at 8.30 a.m.; tea at 4.00 p.m. and dinner at 8.00 p.m.). The student should note the following:
a) The student should be in the mess hall as soon as possible after the bell has rung. Late arrivals should be avoided.
b) No one should begin their meals before grace is said or leave their seats before grace at the end of the meals.
c) While silence is not enforced during meal times, the students should speak softly and avoid boisterous behaviour. However, silence should be observed during breakfast when portions from the Holy Scriptures are being read.
d) Suggestions, Complaints or requests should be brought to the attention of the Student Mess Managers and the Mess Advisor.
e) Plates, glasses and jugs are not to be taken to the rooms without the permission of the Mess Advisor. If, for any reason, they are borrowed, it is the responsibility of the student who takes them to ensure their return at the earliest.

VII Leave from the Seminary:
 Weekends and holidays are occasions for the students to fruitfully use the library and complete their assignments. Hence they should not be seen as an occasion to go home. However when the circumstances warrant, leave may be obtained from the Warden to go home. The student should note the following:
a) A leave form, to be obtained from the Warden and countersigned by him, should be completed and handed to the Reesh.
b) No student is expected to leave the campus on leave before the allowed time and he is to return to the Seminary campus by the time noted on the leave form.
c) Frequent visits to the town by students are discouraged. However, they are allowed to visit the town after 4.00 p.m. on weekdays after receiving permission from the Warden, or in his absence, from a faculty member. Students who do so are to return to the Seminary campus by 5.30 p.m. of the same day.
d) Students who are absent for more than a week due to ill health have to produce a medical certificate and present it to the Warden upon their return.

VIII. Sunday Mission
Students are assigned to churches on Sunday mornings as part of their field education. They are expected to reach their respective churches in time for Sunday morning prayers, complete their assigned duties and return to the Seminary by 5.30 p.m.
Under no circumstances is the student to substitute anybody for the Sunday mission, go home before or after the completion of his assigned duties in the parish.
IX. Dress Code:
Seminary students are expected to dress in a manner befitting the atmosphere and decourm of the institution. The following are the suggestions:
a) Deacons are to dress in clean cassocks/kameez. When wearing a kameez, they are to wear a white shirt and white pants. Light coloured clothes will be acceptable when wearing a casock.
b) All other students are to wear white when attending chapel services and light coloured clothes for classes. The use of bright colours and designs is discouraged.
c) When attending parish mission, church festivals, funerals and the like students will wear white shirts and black pants.

X. Engagements Outside the Seminary:
No student is allowed to accept engagements in parishes or engage in social activities during the academic year without the permission of the Warden. Similarly, no
student is to publish sensitive or controversial articles in journals, magazines or papers.

XI. Guests:
Students should note the following when receiving guests at the Seminary.
a) No guests are to be entertained in the student rooms.
b) The Mess Managers should be informed if any guests will be staying for meals.
c) While parental visits are welcomed, frequent visits by relatives and friends are not encouraged.

XII. Private Vehicles:
 No student is allowed to retain his private vehicle for use in the Seminary or park it on the premises.

XIII. Use of the Telephone:
 Students are to follow strictly the following conditions for the use of the telephone:
a) Telephone calls can be made from the facilities available at the Reception Counter during the following periods:
 9.00 a.m. - 9.30 a.m.
 1.00 p.m. -2.00 p.m.
 4.00 p.m. - 5.00 p.m.
b) Except in the case of an emergency, no calls are to be made or received during either class or study hours.
c) The Warden may be contacted to place calls in the event of an emergency during late hours.
d) No mobile phones will be permitted for use by the students during their stay on campus.
XIV. The use of an electric iron, immersions Computers, Musical Organs and coil heaters in the rooms is strictly prohibited.

XV. Examinations
College and Senate examinations are held at the end of every semester. Students are required to follow the strictest Christian ethical standards in the examination hall.
Any unethical conduct will result in immediate expulsion from the Seminary.

XVI. Clarifications
Any clarification of the above rules or other unwritten rules of conduct my be sought from the Warden.