Upcoming Events

Self-study workshop prepares member schools for institutional evaluation and improvement

The Commission on Accrediting hosts a semi-annual self-study workshop for institutions preparing for accreditation visits. Facilitated by the accrediting staff and led by Valerie Rempel, ATS director of accreditation, the workshop equips participants with practical tools, shared language, and a clearer understanding of the self-study process. Learn what participants have to say about the most recent workshop, held in February at the ATS office in Pittsburgh. Listen Here.

Beyond congregations: new study reveals the value of theological education for diverse contexts

Theological education must cultivate competencies that matter deeply across a wide range of vocational settings, including and beyond congregations. That’s the central insight of a recent study by ATS research consultant Kristina I. Lizardy-Hajbi. In this article, Christopher M. The, ATS director of student data and research, discusses the study’s findings, which paint a portrait of what theological education gets right—and what it might do next. Listen Here.

Assessing student formation: a fresh platform for gathering and sharing new resources

In this third part of a Colloquy miniseries, Christopher M. The, ATS director of student data and research, and a team of guest contributors announce the ATS Formation Repository, a curated, centralized hub of research and assessment tools designed to help member schools cultivate personal and spiritual formation across diverse traditions. The new repository is a result of last year’s ATS Student Data and Resources Consultation, a two-day gathering of practitioners and researchers from a wide range of member schools. Listen Here.

A ‘transformational experience’: ATS Women in Leadership concludes second gathering

As the Women in Leadership Community of Accompaniment Pilot Program wrapped up its second conference in Toronto in March, participants were enthusiastic and hungry for more, writes Eliza Smith Brown, ATS Women in Leadership program manager. In this article, she shares that the most frequently named benefit voiced by participants was the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with other women in theological education, including seasoned leaders who were eager to share their wisdom and experience. Listen Here.

Educational Models and Practices Project: grants for innovation and faculty development

Stephen R. Graham, ATS strategic director of context and continuity and director of accreditation, explores the history of the Educational Models and Practices Project. Schools applied for grants of up to $50,000 to support innovative projects to facilitate curricular and institutional adaptations to changing circumstances, and up to $15,000 for faculty development to enhance adaptation to new educational models and practices. Thanks to generous funding from Lilly Endowment Inc., ATS made 58 innovation grants and 44 grants for faculty development during the 2017–18 academic year. Listen Here.

Candler School of Theology's La Mesa Academy provides alternative pathways to graduate theological education

La Mesa Academy for Theological Studies at Candler is a new, innovative learning opportunity. The two-year program not only provides a graduate-ready curriculum, but it is also designed for those whose traditions do not require a master’s degree for ordination. La Mesa graduates who aspire enrollment in a graduate program at an ATS-accredited institution may request a letter of recommendation affirming their proficiency in the four literacies: research, theological, technological, and cultural. Specially designed with multiculturalism at its core, La Mesa Academy is the result of a $10 million Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.