ERIC ED468778: The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada Bulletin, 2002. Parts 1, 2:A, [and] 3.

522 Pages·2002·6.9 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
ED 468 778
HE 035 244
The Association of Theological Schools in the United States
TITLE
and Canada Bulletin, 2002. Parts 1,
2:A,
[and]
3.
Association of Theological Schools in the United States and
INSTITUTION
Canada, Pittsburgh, PA.
ISSN-0362-1472
ISSN
2002-00-00
PUB DATE
NOTE
521p.
Association of Theological Schools in the United States and
AVAILABLE FROM
Canada, 10 Summit Park Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15275-1103. Tel:
412-788-6505; Fax: [phone]; Web site:
http://www.ats.edu.
Directories/Catalogs (132) Reports
Reference Materials
PUB TYPE
Descriptive (141)
EDRS Price MF02/PC21 Plus Postage.
EDRS PRICE
*Accreditation (Institutions); Accrediting Agencies;
DESCRIPTORS
*Colleges; Educational Policy; Higher Education; Special
Degree Programs; *Standards; *Theological Education
*Association of Theological Schools
IDENTIFIERS
ABSTRACT
This volume of the Bulletin provides detailed information
about the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) in the United States and
Canada. The ATS Constitution is presented and its dues structure is outlined.
A second section discusses procedures related to membership and
accreditation. Standards of accreditation are described in a third section,
beginning with general institutional standards about purpose and mission,
teaching and scholarship, faculty and students, and resources and
institutional characteristics. Degree program standards are also described,
including those for basic programs oriented toward ministerial leadership and
general theological studies and advanced programs in those areas. Eleven
policy statements of the ATS are attached. The second part of the Bulletin is
intended for general use and lists all institutions that held membership in
the ATS at the time of its printing. There are three categories of membership
in the Association: accredited membership, candidate for accredited
membership, and associate membership. The member schools are listed
alphabetically by membership category. The membership list provides brief
descriptions of the institutional and organizational resources for graduate
theological education and identifies schools by church or denominational
designations. The third part of the Bulletin contains a report on the 43rd
biennial meeting of the Association (2001). The report opens with the meeting
agenda and lists participants in the program and then presents the reports of
the Executive Committee, Treasurer, and Commission on Accrediting. Proposed
changes to the Constitution and procedures and standards are outlined.
Committee and program reports for 13 committees are summarized, and the
report of the Fund for Theological Education, Inc. is attached.
(SLD)
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
The Association of Theological Schools
in the United States and Canada
Bulletin, 2002. Parts 1, 2:A, [and] 3.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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BEST COPY AVAILABLE
2
Bulletin
45
PART 1
2002
ATS Constitution
and Dues Structure
Procedures Related
to Membership
and Accreditation
Standards of Accreditation
Policy Statements
ate
The Association of Theological Schools
IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA
ISSN 0362-1472
The BULLETIN of
The Association of Theological Schools
in the United States and Canada
consists of three parts as follows:
Part 1 ATS Constitution and Dues Structure
Procedures Related to Membership and Accreditation
Standards of Accreditation
Policy Statements
(published biennially)
Part 2 Membership List
(published annually as Part 2:A and 2:B)
Part 3 Biennial Meeting
(published biennially)
This publication replaces all former documents of ATS
under the same or similar titles.
To order a copy of this publication,
please contact the ATS office or
order from the ATS website at www.ats.edu.
atS The
Association of Theological Schools
IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA
10 Summit Park Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15275-1103
Website: www.ats.edu
Fax: [phone]
Phone: [phone]
Contents
Introduction
v
ATS Constitution and Dues Structure
1
Procedures Related to Membership and Accreditation
17
Associate Membership
19
Candidate for Accredited Membership
22
Accredited Membership
24
Procedures for Approval of New Degree Programs
27
Procedures for Approval of Programs Involving Multiple
27
Locations (Extension Sites) and Distance Education
Enforcement of Standards for Accredited Members
30
The Commission on Accrediting
34
Evaluation Committees
35
Policy on Disclosure and Confidentiality
36
Appeals of Actions by the Commission on Accrediting
40
Complaints
41
Dual Accreditation
41
Standards of Accreditation
43
General Institutional Standards
47
Purpose, Planning, and Evaluation
48
Institutional Integrity
49
Learning, Teaching, and Research: Theological Scholarship
50
The Theological Curriculum
54
Library and Information Resources
60
Faculty
63
Student Recruitment, Admission, Services, and Placement
65
Authority and Governance
68
Institutional Resources
73
Multiple Locations and Distance Education
80
Degree Program Standards
93
Basic Programs Oriented Toward
Ministerial Leadership
Master of Divinity (M.Div.)
95
Master of Religious Education (M.R.E.)
100
Master of Christian Education (M.C.E.)
also:
Master of Arts in Religious Education
Master of Arts in Christian Education
104
Master of Arts in [specialized ministry] (M.A. in
)
108
Master of Church Music (M.C.M.)
Master of Sacred Music (M.S.M.)
also:
Master of Music in Church Music
Master of Arts in Church Music
Basic Programs Oriented Toward
General Theological Studies
Master of Arts (M.A.)
111
Master of Arts (Religion) (M.A.R.)
also:
Master of Arts (Theological Studies)
Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.)
Advanced Programs Oriented Toward
Ministerial Leadership
114
Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)
118
Doctor of Educational Ministry (D.Ed.Min.)
123
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
125
Doctor of Missiology (D.Miss.)
128
Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.)
Doctor of Church Music (D.C.M.)
also:
Doctor of Sacred Music (S.M.D.)
Advanced Programs Primarily Oriented Toward
Theological Research and Teaching
Master of Theology (Th.M.)
131
Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.)
also:
134
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Doctor of Theology (Th.D.)
also:
Criteria for Admission, Transfer of Credits,
139
Shared Credit in Degree Programs,
and Advanced Standing Related to
ATS-Approved Degree Programs
141
Summary of Notations
5
ii
Policy Statements
147
Academic Freedom and Tenure (1976)*
151
Institutional Procedures: Faculty Resignations, Leaves,
159
and Retirements (1960)
Procedures for Self-Study and Resources for Counseling (1972)
165
Ethical Guidelines for Seminaries and Seminary Clusters (1976)
167
Institutional Responsibilities and
170
Off-Campus Educational Programs (1986)
ATS Guidelines for Retrenchment (1976)
176
Professional Ethics for Teachers (1966/72)
178
Evaluation of the Work of Faculty Members
182
and Administrative Officers (1976)
Goals and Guidelines for Women in Theological Schools (1976)
185
Statement on Preparation for Seminary Studies (1978)
189
Student Financial Aid (1976)
191
Termination of Student Tenure (1974)
193
Accreditation of Theological Schools and
195
Ecclesiastical Assessment of Schools (1990)
* The date each policy was approved appears in parentheses.
6
iii
Introduction
The mission of The Association of Theological Schools in the United
States and Canada is to promote the improvement and enhancement of
theological schools to the benefit of communities of faith and the broader
public. The Association seeks to fulfill this mission by engaging in four core
functions of work: (1) accreditation, (2) leadership education for adminis-
trative officers and faculty, (3) development of theological education,
which involves the study of critical issues in theological education, and (4)
data and communications.
The Association began in 1918 as a conference of theological schools
that met biennially. In 1936 it became an Association, adopted standards for
judging quality, and in 1938 established a list of accredited schools. In 1956
it incorporated and secured a full-time staff. In 1964 it began publication of
the journal, Theological Education. The Fact Book on Theological Education has
been published annually since 1969.
From its beginning, the Association has been representative in mem-
bership of both the United States and Canada. Its member schools include
Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Orthodox graduate schools of theology
that reflect a broad spectrum of doctrinal, ecclesiastical, and theological
perspectives.
Legislative functions of the Association, such as the development of
standards and procedures for membership and accreditation, setting of
membership dues, and changes in the Constitution are conducted at the
Biennial Meetings of the Association, which occur in even-numbered years.
The work of the Association is carried forward by the Executive Committee,
the Commission on Accrediting, and other established committees.
The Association's Commission on Accrediting is recognized by the
U.S. Department of Education and by the nongovernmental Council for
Higher Education Accreditation for the accreditation of graduate, profes-
sional theological schools in the U.S. The ATS Commission on Accrediting
works cooperatively with regional accrediting associations, other profes-
sional associations, state departments of education, and other allied orga-
nizations in Canada and the United States.
The Association maintains relationships with a wide range of organi-
zations related to ministry and higher education.
The three parts of the Bulletin provide detailed information about the
Association: its constitutional structure, procedures related to member-
ship, its standards of accreditation, policy statements about the work of
theological schools, the membership list, and a report of the Biennial
Meeting.
Information about the Association and its member institutions is
available on the Association's website <www.ats.edu> or by contacting the
office of the Association in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
ATS Constitution and Dues Structure
8
1
Constitution of
The Association of Theological Schools
in the United States and Canada
Article I
Name
The name of this organization is The Association of Theological Schools
in the United States and Canada, Inc.
Article II
Scope of Activity
The Association presently includes in its membership those schools
located in the United States and Canada which have met the conditions and
standards established by the Association.
Article III
Purposes
are
The purposes of the Association, as set forth in its corporate charter,
that said nonprofit corporate entity is organized exclusively for charitable,
religious, educational, and scientific purposes, including for such pur-
poses, but not limited thereto, the following:
To establish standards of theological education and to maintain a
a.
list of institutions accredited on the basis of such standards;
b.
To provide a continuing forum and entity for its members to confer
concerning matters of common interest in the area of theological
education;
To consider issues that may arise as to the relations of such
c.
institutions to one another, to other educational institutions or
associations, or to ecclesiastical or governmental authorities;
d.
In general, without limitation as to the foregoing, to promote the
improvement of theological education in such ways as it may
deem appropriate.
9
3