 2012–13 Annual Data Tables now online
The ATS Annual Data Tables, compiled from the Annual Report Forms submitted by the Association’s 273 member schools, contain a wealth of information about student enrollment, faculty composition and compensation, and institutional finances and development.
|
|
 The fall Colloquy now online
This issue tackles the topic of ethics and accountability as it applies to the Association and Commission, their member schools, and the faith communities and publics those schools serve. Also included is a report from the 2012 Biennial Meeting.
|
|
 Christian Hospitality and Pastoral Practices in a Multifaith Society
This issue of Theological Education describes the Christian Hospitality and Pastoral Practices in a Multifaith Society project that brought together faculty members; scholar practitioners representing world faiths; and chaplains from hospitals, correctional facilities, and the US military to explore facets of the complex situations facing those in religious leadership as they exercise their pastoral practices of preaching, teaching, providing care, marrying, burying, and the host of other duties within their ministries. Read the editor's introduction for summaries of the articles and subscribe today to ensure your school benefits from this helpful information.
|
|
Our hearts and prayers go out to all those who are struggling with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, and espcially to our member schools, as their students, faculty, and administrative staff members attempt to resume normal operations.
|
|
Revised Educational and Degree Program Standards
Revised Educational and Degree Program Standards were passed at the 2012 Biennial Meeting on June 22, 2012. Please visit the accrediting section of the website to view the standards, the plan of implementation, and the Commission Procedures. (posted 07/02/12)
|
|
Petitions for exceptions, exemptions, and experiments
In addition to the Plan of Implementation for the revised Educational and Degree Program Standards, the Board of Commissioners, in its June 2012 meeting, agreed to consider submissions of petitions for exceptions, exemptions, and experiments to the revised Educational and Degree Program Standards beginning at its June 2013 meeting. The February 2013 meeting will be used for developing further the protocols for considering exceptions, exemptions, and experiments. Petitions submitted before the June 2013 meeting will be deferred but will not require resubmissions. (posted 07/25/12)
|
|
Interpretation Conference webinar
The ATS/COA Biennial Meeting on June 20–22, 2012, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, will feature discussions and a membership vote on the proposed revised Degree Program Standards.
In preparation for the presentation of the final draft of the standards, the Association and the Commission on Accrediting will sponsor an Interpretation Conference webinar on May 10,
3–6 p.m., EDT. The purpose of the webinar is to provide information about the final draft of proposed standards to be presented by the Board of Commissioners to member schools for consideration at the 2012 Biennial Meeting. Any employee of a Commission member school is invited to participate.
Please register by the deadline of Friday, April 27. At the close of registration, participants will receive call-in information. |
|
 Final drafts of proposed standards coming soon
Final drafts of the proposed Degree Program Standards are currently being reformatted. The final texts will be published by May 7.
|
|
 Revised Policy Manual now available
The Policy Manual contains all the policies adopted by the Board of Commissioners and addresses matters of board procedure and interpretation; the manual also contains the formally adopted guidelines the board has prepared for schools to use in petitioning the board for approval of a variety of institutional initiatives.
|
|
 Handbook Section Six now updated
The revised Section Six of the Handbook of Accreditation contains petitioning guidelines adopted by the Board of Commissioners. The board expects member schools to be familiar with these guidelines, as they provide direction for interaction with the board.
|
|
2010-11 ESQ Total School Profile now available
We are pleased to make available the Total School Profile for the 2010-11 Entering Student Questionnaire. This report, generated from 6,707 students from 157 schools, provides a representative overview of the 2010 entering class. Schools having participated in the survey will be able to benchmark their data against this report.
|
|
 Henry Luce III Fellows in Theology
The Henry Luce III Fellows in Theology program is a sabbatical program that supports the research of full-time faculty at accredited and candidate member institutions of ATS. Informational materials will be mailed by the end of July and the Overview and Application booklet is available online.
|
|
 Lilly Theological Research Grants
The Lilly Theological Research Grants program is designed to provide support for the research efforts of full-time faculty in ATS accredited and candidate schools. Informational materials will be mailed to the schools by the end of July and the Overview and Application booklet is available online.
|
|
|
|
New Petition Guidelines
At its February 2013 meeting, the Board of Commissioners approved a new set of "Guidelines for Petitioning the Board of Commissioners" that constitutes Section Six of the Handbook of Accreditation. Those new guidelines address a variety of substantive change petitions, including new online petition templates for new extension sites, comprehensive distance education, new or revised degree programs, changes in degree nomenclature, and educational experiments and exceptions. Member schools are to use these new online petition templates for any of those five types of petitions, effective as of the August 2013 board meeting (for which the submission deadline is April 1, 2013). (posted 02/28/13) |
|
New Petition Fee
At its February 2013 meeting, the Board of Commissioners approved a new $250 petition submission fee, effective fall 2013, for each petition dealing with the following substantive changes:
-
new extension site
-
comprehensive distance education
-
new or revised degree program
-
educational experiment or exception
-
campus relocation
-
change in governance or ownership
NOTE: Petitions submitted this spring for consideration at the August 2013 board meeting will NOT be charged a fee. (posted 02/28/13) |
|
REPORTS FROM CHAPP PROJECT
Christian Hospitality and Pastoral Practices in a Multifaith Society (CHAPP) project sought to help theological schools prepare their graduates to serve faithfully and effectively in multifaith contexts. Eighteen grants were awarded to help schools explore ways to integrate multifaith elements into their curricula.
View results from the schools' projects. |
|
|
ACCREDITING ANNOUNCEMENTS
Institutions wishing to be considered for associate membership at the June 2014 ATS Biennial Meeting should follow the instructions on How to Become a Member.
|
|
The Board of Commissioners has directed staff to disclose official actions resulting from a board meeting only via the official action letter from the board to each school. Letters will be mailed within 30 days following the June 7-8 board meeting.
Public disclosure of such actions may be made only after the thirty-day appeal period. |
|
Biennial Meeting
of the Association and the Commission
Minneapolis, MN
The Biennial Meeting begins Wednesday,
June 20, and concludes Friday, June 22.
View the online brochure for details.
IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE BIENNIAL MEETING
CAOS Seminar
June 19, 2012
Transportation Planner
Reminder: Those attending either of these meetings should ensure they have a current passport
if their travel requires a border crossing
between the United States and Canada. |
|
Institutions wishing to be considered
for associate membership at the June 2010 ATS/COA Biennial Meeting should submit materials by October 1, 2009. |
|
|
Materials for the June 2010
Board of Commissioners meeting
must be received by April 1, 2010. |
|
|