Assistance for the Disabled

The University provides a time-limited professional counseling service for students seeking assistance with concerns of all kinds — academic, social, emotional, or interpersonal.

In accordance with the provisions of Sections 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, the University seeks to provide disabled students with reasonable accommodations needed to ensure equal access to the programs and activities of The School of Theology.

Information and assistance may be obtained from the Community Life office.

Child-care

Parents’ Morning Out (PMO) is a two-day a week program for ages six weeks to pre-school offered at The School of Theology. There is limited space available and space is offered first to the students, staff, and faculty of the School of Theology.  Child-care is also provided by PMO for various events that The School of Theology sponsors.

The University of the South Child Care Center takes infants and children ages six weeks to five years old. Space is offered first to faculty, staff, and students.

Sewanee Children’s Center at Otey Memorial Parish Church welcomes children age two to five. There is also an after school program for children to age eight. There is a lottery in the spring for new placements but spaces sometimes come available during the year.

Education for Ministry

The Education for Ministry (EfM) program provides lay people with the education to carry out their individual ministry. EfM offers an opportunity to discover how to respond to the call to Christian service.

Health Insurance

A generous student medical and dental insurance plan, through The Episcopal Church Medical Trust, is available for those students who do not already have insurance. Visit their website to view the plans that are available to you by clicking on "clients" followed by a click on the "seminarian" button. August is the only open enrollment period that the School offers, except for a few qualifying events. If you are interested in the insurance plan, please print the Seminarian Open Enrollment Form and email it to the School's seminarian insurance liaison, Ron Biesecker. You may contact Ron by email or phone at 931.598.3419. The final cutoff for 2011 enrollment is Aug. 26.

Housing

University Rentals

If you would like to rent from the University, The housing office will send rental contracts and housing information. The University provides a complete online list of the housing inventory along with the floor plans.

Private Rentals

There are a number of privately owned homes for rent on and around campus and an annual supply of fully furnished homes belonging to faculty on sabbatical if you cannot find what you want from University Housing. Some popular areas to consider are Monteagle, Cowan, Tullahoma, Chattanooga, and Murfreesboro. Local real estate agents can assist with this search.

Purchase or Build

The asking prices for Sewanee houses currently range from $82,000 to $1.1 million. The average listed price is $260,374. A list of houses for sale on the Domain is available from the Lease Office. (Note that you do not own the land if you purchase a house in Sewanee; all land on the Domain is owned by the University.)

Local Schools

Most elementary-school aged children attend Sewanee Elementary School, a public school in downtown Sewanee. Middle-school aged children attend either St. Andrews’-Sewanee School, a private Episcopal school serving grades 7-12 (seminary families get a discount on tuition), which is on the Mountain, less than a mile from the University gates, or the Franklin County public middle and high schools, both of which are off the Mountain, in Cowan and Winchester (a 15-20 minute drive).

Pets

It’s safe to say that Sewanee has probably one of the best environments for pets of all the Episcopal seminaries, especially if your furry family members are used to having access to the great outdoors.

Dogs have long been welcome members of the Sewanee community.  However, all dogs must be under the control of their owners at all times while on the Domain. The complete Dog Control Policy is available from the Police Department.

Pets are welcome in University Housing with a $200 deposit paid at the beginning of your stay.

Under Tennessee law, dogs and cats must receive rabies vaccines annually.

“Sewanee Speak”

Sewanee has its own language that has developed over the ages. See the complete list of the local colloquialisms. Master these and you will feel right at home.

S of T Move

Current seminarians and their spouses are available to help with a move. Contact Peter Wong or Will Lowry if you need assistance.

Spiritual Directors

The Office for Community Life is responsible for maintaining a list of Spiritual Directors and Confessors for seminarians and their spouses. Interested parties should contact the Associate Dean of Community Life.

Spouses of the Seminary

The Spouses of the Seminary (SOS) is composed of all spouses of seminarians, faculty, and staff from The School of Theology at the University of the South. The SOS meets the third Tuesday of each month during the academic year for programs, fun, fellowship, and support. The SOS also organizes several events during the year for the entire seminary community including summer community picnics, day hiking trips, a Christmas party, and panel discussions.