Examples of the Use of ATS Data Resources in Self-Study

ATS offers a variety of instruments that can provide member schools with a vast array of information about themselves and their ATS peers. There is a cost-recovery fee for the instruments in the Student Information Project. The Strategic Information Report comes automatically while each school initiates the request for the Institutional Peer Profile Report since each member determines the "peers" the report uses.

Resources
Student Information Project
Strategic Information Report (SIR)
Institutional Peer Profile Report (IPPR)

Degree Programs
4.2.0.2 The number of students enrolled in any degree program shall be sufficient to provide a community of learning in that degree program.

A school could use IPPR Figure 6 or SIR Chart 3.1.1 to demonstrate evidence of the size and growth/decline of degree programs. The charts provide comparative data against five to fifteen peers self-selected by the school (IPPR) and denominational and broader categories (SIR). The chart should be accompanied by a narrative stating the school's understanding of the sufficiency of the community of learning for the degrees and how enrollment change affects the school's ability to fulfill its mission.

Faculty
6.1.7 The institution should support its faculty through such means as adequate salaries, suitable working conditions, and support services.

A school could use SIR Chart 2.3.7a to demonstrate the adequacy of salaries paid to its faculty by comparing them to salaries paid to faculty of other ATS member schools. The chart should be accompanied by a narrative describing the school's approach to salary decisions and how the chart and approach demonstrate adequate salaries. The narrative should also include an analysis of how the approach affects the school's ability to recruit and retain faculty and how salaries affect the school's ability to fulfill its mission.

6.1.8 The work load of faculty members in teaching and administration shall permit adequate attention to students, to scholarly pursuits, and to other ecclesial and institutional concerns.

A school could use IPPR Figure 12 to demonstrate the student/faculty ratio of the school compared to self-selected peer institutions. The chart should be accompanied by an analysis of the school's specific setting and how it affects the school's ability to fulfill its mission.

Finances
9.2.1.2 A theological school shall have stable and predictable sources of revenue such that the current and anticipated total revenues are sufficient to maintain the educational quality of the institution. Projected increases in revenue, including gift income, should be realistic. The use of endowment return to fund expenditures budgets should be prudent and in accordance with applicable law.

A school could use SIR Chart 2.2.2 and SIR Chart 2.2.4 to display revenues and expenditures over the last ten years. These charts should be accompanied by an analysis describing the changes in revenues and expenditures over these years and how the school believes these trends translate into the current year budget and long-range strategic and financial planning.

A school could use IPPR Figure 15 and Figure 16 to display revenues and expenditures by category over the past five years compared to self-selected peer institutions. These figures should be accompanied by an analysis describing changes in revenues and expenditures over these years and how the school believes these trends translate into the current year budget and long-range financial planning.