October 2023
Debbie Creamer takes early retirement from ATS
Debbie Creamer, senior director of design and organizational learning, has taken early retirement from ATS. Debbie joined the staff of ATS in 2013 as director of accreditation and institutional evaluation and served as senior director of accreditation from 2018 to 2020. Read more. Listen here.
ATS enrollment trend snapshot: fall 2023
As of late October, 236 ATS member schools have reported their fall 2023 enrollment numbers, which represents about 85% of the membership. Of those who have reported to date, 45% showed increased total enrollment from fall 2022 to fall 2023, while 55% experienced decreased total enrollment. Read more. Listen here.
In this together: connecting theological schools with local churches
As an institutional advancement professional in pursuit of engaging churches and building new avenues for them to invest in seminarians, I spent seven years throwing the proverbial spaghetti at the wall. Over that period, three pieces stuck (though my proverbial floor is a mess). Read more. Listen here.
Peer groups, coaching, and thriving in theological education
Decades of research attest to the benefits of peer group participation among clergy and church leaders as they serve the evolving institutional church. Program staff and faculty at ATS schools can derive similar benefits. Read more. Listen here.
ATS to present initial findings on contingent faculty
ATS is conducting a study on contingent faculty at ATS member schools and will present its initial findings at a session at the American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature on Monday, November 20, 1:30–3:30 p.m. ET. Senior leaders and faculty are encouraged to attend. The current status of contingent (e.g., adjunct, limited-contract) faculty will be discussed, as well as perspectives on vocation, expectations, and support.
ATS school students needed for behavioral health survey
The University of Alaska Anchorage Center for Behavioral Health Research & Services is conducting a North American research study to learn more about the health, behaviors, and health-related needs of students attending theological schools. ATS school faculty members and administrators are asked to share the survey with their students. To be eligible for participation, students must be 18 years or older and be a current student at an ATS member school. The survey takes 15-20 minutes to complete and students can enter into an Amazon gift card drawing. For more information, contact Nathan West or Ben Webb.
UPCOMING
EVENTS
~ ATS Member School Spotlight ~
United Theological Seminary
United Theological Seminary's Houses of Study, funded through Lilly Endowment Inc.'s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative, is contributing to United's recent rising enrollment. Houses of Study "equips students for service in the communities, movements, and denominations where they serve" through academic tracks in United’s Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Christian Ministries degree programs and through mutual support in formation groups. Nine Houses of Study have been launched since the program began in 2021: (1) Fresh Expressions House, (2) Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship House, (3) Global Methodist House, (4) Global Pentecostal House, (5) Hispanic House, (6) Korean House, (7) AME Zion House, (8) Global Lutheran House, and (9) Jabula Luminary House. Read more.
Share your news with us to be featured as the next ATS Member School Spotlight! Send information to communications@ats.edu.
The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) is a membership organization of graduate theological schools. ATS Programs and Services offers educational events and resources to assist member schools with best practices, development of peer networks, production of research, and exploration of data. The Commission on Accrediting of ATS accredits the schools and approves the degree programs.