2024 Schedule of Courses

May 17-18 and June 28-29, 2024
Location: Tennessee Wesleyan – Eastern Time Zone
COS 422 (formerly 412) Theological Heritage IV: Wesleyan Movement Rev. Dr. William McDonald  Syllabus

June 7-8 and June 28-29, 2024
Location: Zoom only
COS 124 Transformative Leadership Rev. Dr. Robert Brown Syllabus

June 7-8 and July 19-20, 2024
Location:  Tennessee Wesleyan – Eastern Time Zone
COS 222 (formerly 212) Theological Heritage II: Early Church   Rev. Dr. William McDonald Syllabus

June 14-15 and July 19-20, 2024
Location:  Union College – Eastern Time Zone
COS 321 (formerly 311) Bible III: Gospels     Rev. Dr. Russ Sisson

August 2-3 and August 23-24, 2024
Location:  Franklin First UMC – Franklin, TN – Central
COS 521 (formerly 511) Bible V: Acts, Epistles & Revelation     Rev. Dr. Jack Keller Syllabus

September 6-7 and September 27-28, 2024
Location: Franklin First UMC – Franklin, TN – Central Time Zone
COS 121 (formerly 111) Bible I: Introduction     Rev. Dr. Pat Whittemore Syllabus
COS 424 (formerly 414) Ethics     Rev. Dr. Jack Keller
COS 522 (formerly 511) Contemporary Theology   Rev. Dr. Bob Ratcliff Syllabus

Location: Tennessee Wesleyan – Athens, TN – Eastern Time Zone
COS 223 (formerly 413) Worship and Sacraments   Rev. Dr. Ken Ramsey Syllabus
COS 324 (formerly 214) Preaching Rev. Dr. Robert Brown (weekend 1 zoom; residential weekend 2) Syllabus

October 11-12 and November 1-2, 2024
Location: Franklin First UMC – Franklin, TN – Central Time Zone
COS 321 (formerly 311) Bible III: Gospels   Rev. Dr. Jack Keller Syllabus
COS 523 (formerly 313) Evangelism – Rev. Dr. Bryan Brooks

Location: Tennessee Wesleyan – Athens, TN – Eastern Time Zone
COS 323 (formerly 314) Congregational Care      Rev. Paul Walles Syllabus
COS 524 (formerly 514) Theological Reflection: Practice of Ministry   Rev. Dr. Ken Ramsey Syllabus

COURSE LOCATIONS and MEETING TIMES and Hotels (google for hotels)

Plan to arrive at all residential weekend one courses by 4:00-4:15 pm on FRIDAY for 4:30-8:30 pm class and Saturday 8:30 am – 3:30 pm (arrive by 8:15 am) Thank you. 

Franklin First UMC
120 Aldersgate Way
Franklin, TN  37069
Room #s: B132, B135, B136 AND others
Lost or Locked out of the building at the start of the course:  Contact Ken 615-289-4354   

Plan with your instructor for the time to enter the building after lunch.  Please do not be late.  If you are late call or text your instructor.

Hotel:  There are many in area near the church – There is a Hampton beside Cool Springs Mall near restaurants and shopping.  7141 S Springs Dr. Franklin, TN (9 miles to Franklin First – takes at least 15 minutes to drive to the church because of traffic.  The COS courses are located on the back side of the church, where you enter the Sunday School wing.  There is only one door that will be open.  If you go out the door other than at lunch, you will be locked out of the building except at the time the instructor sets for you to return to class.  Bring dinner and snack on Friday if you do not eat prior to class.  

Union College – Campus Map
310 College St
Barbourville, KY
Sharp Academic Center: location for courses – parking is on the right side of the building – Sign for classes will be posted
Lost?  Contact Dr. Russ Sisson    606-524-6326

Hotel – The Best Western Wilderness Inn in Barbourville is 5 minutes from Union College and the Host Site Hotel.  Please mention you are an ALPS student attending a course at Union College.  There may be a reduced rate.  AARP rate offered also.  There are other hotels before you get to the campus.

Tennessee Wesleyan University – Campus Map
204 East College St
Athens, TN 37303
Elliot Hall also known as the Good Friends School of Business – parking is to the left of the building as you face the front door (use the campus map to locate the building
Room #s: are on the doors.  You will see your instructor in the room.  Classes are usually held on floor one but could be on floor 2
Lost? Contact Danny Duckett (security) 423-887-3976

Hotel:  There is a Hampton Inn, Fairfield, Comfort and Holiday Inn at the campus exit in Athens.

The road after you exit off I-75 (Exit 49) that leads to the campus is Hwy 30 – Decatur Pk.  You will see a sign to the Campus.

INFORMATION AND POLICIES

Carefully read and follow the information and policies below.

ALPS-MTH COS reserves the right to cancel a course or to change instructors.  Course cancelation rarely happen and is due to insufficient enrollment in a course or an unforeseen faculty conflict.

Submission of a course Registration Form to ALPS-MTH signifies the student has read the ALPS-MTH policies, intends to take the courses listed on the registration form, and the student understands they are responsible for payment of the registration ($70) fee and tuition fee ($300) for each course unless paid by the conference.

REGISTRATION:  Students must be a part-time local pastor to attend the ALPS-MTH Extension School unless an exception is approved by GBHEM. Contact Dr. Barbara Nye for exception information and processbnye34@gmail.com.

Your registration form will flow from your DS to your conference registrar and then to the ALPS-MTH Registrar-Pam Whitmore  alpsmthcos@gmail.com.  Mail your registration fee to Pam Whitmore, Register as soon as you process your registration form to your District Superintendent.  The Registrar will email you an invoice upon receipt of your application. The invoice shows any tuition balance still owed or zero balance if the conference will pay the full tuition.  You will be registered for the course unless contacted by Pam.   Mail the balance due at least 30 days prior to the first course meeting.  Contact Pam, alpsmthcos@gmail.com, if you have questions about registration.

GBHEM-General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the UMC maintains your official transcript.  A transcript must be included with your first 2024 registration form to verify you have taken COS 121 and 122 prerequisite courses.  Both courses are required prior to enrolling in any other COS courses (GBHEM policy effective June 30, 2019).  Contact bnye34@gmail.com for prerequisite COS 121 or 122 assistance.  If you have not taken COS 121 or 122 and wish to discuss taking 123 or 124 prior to taking COS 121 and/or 122 contact bnye34@gmail.com.  Request an official transcript from cosregistrar@gbhem.org.

Please register at least 3-6 months prior to the COS course(s).  This assures enrollment space and adequate time to order your textbooks and to complete required prework assignments on time.  Select the “Registration Tab” at www.alpsumc.org.  Keep a copy of your Registration Form before it is sent to the District Superintendent.  The website’s “General Information Tab” provides a course planning curriculum grid, etc.  Registration ends 30 days prior to the COS course’s first required class session unless a late registration exception is granted by Dr. Nye bnye34@gmail.com.  Any zoom course directed study options must be approved 30 days in advance of the course.  All students should plan to attend weekend one of courses residentially whenever possible. There will be few zoom exceptions. Exceptions will be made for very far distanced students who need a specific course, ill students, etc.  Please call Dr. Nye to discuss your situation first 615-289-4332. Do not contact Pam or the instructor.  Thank you.

COURSE ENROLLMENT NOTICE:  Students will not receive an enrollment notice.  You will only be notified if the course is cancelled due to insufficient or full enrollment.  Registration signifies your course enrollment unless you receive further notice from the Registrar.

SYLLABI:  Select the ALPS-MTH “2024 Course Schedule” at www.alpsumc.org for course dates.  Scroll down and click on the course syllabus link beside the course title.  As soon as you register 1) review the syllabus, 2) order textbooks and begin prework.  

Please add the instructor’s email address and alpsmthcos@gmail.com to your computer email address book now.  Check your email and spam regularly. Course weekend materials, videos, zoom session links and other information are emailed to students as a group by the course instructor prior to class – about 2-3 weeks ahead of the first-class weekend.   COS course schedule updates, etc. are emailed to students from alpsmthcos@gmail.com.

Follow the course syllabus for 2024.  Syllabi may change each year.  2024 COS Course syllabi will be posted on this website by approximately November 15, 2023, or as soon as the faculty emails these to Pam.

TEXTBOOKS: Order textbooks and begin reading and completing prework as soon as you process your registration form to your District Superintendent.  

PREWORK: Prework assignments for courses must be mailed and postmarked 10 days prior to the first Friday/Saturday weekend class session – unless the syllabus says to email the prework to the instructor by a specific date or to submit the prework earlier than 10 days prior to the course.  Students must follow the syllabus directions.  Use regular mail or priority mail if you need a mail tracking number.  Do not mark signature required.

Check your email and spam folder regularly.  Add the instructor’s email to your computer email address book to assure you receive emails.  It is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor 14 days prior to the first weekend if they do not receive a welcome email with class information, etc. 

PREWORK EXTENSIONS – Normal church duties do NOT constitute a reason for a Pre-work Extension.  Extensions are for health emergencies, etc.  Email Extension Requests to  bnye34@gmail.com.

ATTENDANCE is required for all hours for both weekends.    Contact bnye34@gmail.com for any requests for an exception.

Please do not attend the residential session if you are ill or have Covid (home or Dr. test positive) or have Covid symptoms.  Contact Dr. Nye in advance for zoom options.  

TUITION PAYMENT POLICY:  Students must pay their course registration and tuition balance at least 30 days prior to attending the first weekend class.  Students are responsible for the full balance. Contact Dr. Barbara Nye bnye34@gmail.com for any late payment approval.

GRADES: are sent to Student, GBHEM Division of Ordained Ministry, Directors/Registrars of Emory, ALPS/MTH COS Registrar, and Conference Board of Ordained Ministry.  Allow 4-6 weeks after the course for grades to be emailed.  Faculties have 3-4 weeks to complete grading.  

COURSE WITHDRAWAL:  A Request to Withdraw must be completed at least 30 days prior to the first weekend. To request a withdrawal, email bnye34@gmail.com and copy alpsmthcos@gmail.com.  Please do NOT contact the course instructor to request a withdrawal.  The instructor CANNOT withdraw you from a class.  

If you request a Late Withdrawal (less than 30 days) the $370 fee is non-refundable and non-transferable since registration has been processed and all course arrangements have been made.  If you have not paid, you will be required to pay the $370 class fee.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY: Students are responsible to submit prework on time, read course emails and follow their course syllabus carefully.  Students are responsible to contact the instructor by email 14 days ahead of the first weekend class sessions – if they have not received the instructor’s Welcome Email with required materials to print for class, pre-course videos, etc.