Accrediting processes simplified 
At its February 2014 meeting, the ATS Board of Commissioners approved a number of changes to its policies and practices. Among the changes are clearer guidelines and procedures for extension sites and joint/dual degrees, a revised and abbreviated set of Notations clearly linked to the current standards, and new protocols for reviewing interim reports from member schools in a more timely fashion. Schools will also find new templates for routine petitions on the Petitions webpage. Other changes recommended by the board that require membership approval will be disseminated to member schools at least 45 days prior to the Biennial Meeting in Pittsburgh (June 25-27, 2014), where those changes will be considered by the Commission membership.
Continuing education for faculty:
5 strategies that won't break the bank
 Today, faculty must not only be masters of their disciplines; they must also master instructional design, educational technology, and accreditation standards, all on a budget that probably hasn't changed in the past decade. One colleague offers a few practical ways theological educators can extend their continuing education efforts without overextending themselves. Read more.
Accreditation staff changes 
Lori Neff joins ATS as director, accreditation services . . . Susan Beckerdite, who has worked in the accrediting department for nearly twenty years, will retire at the end of this month.
Read more.
Make plans for Pittsburgh!
The Biennial Meeting on June 25-27 will give registrants the chance to experience Pittsburgh, a city that keeps reinventing itself. The Westin Convention Center Hotel is adjacent to Pittsburgh's downtown Cultural District and a short walk to baseball at PNC Park, where the Pittsburgh Pirates will play the New York Mets on the meeting's free evening, Thursday, June 26. (Tickets are available online.) Make plans to see the city from a riverboat or from the top of scenic Mt. Washington. Other nearby attractions include the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Phipps Conservatory, the Heinz History Center, and the National Aviary. Register today!
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