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The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) is a membership organization of more than 260 graduate schools that conduct post-baccalaureate professional and academic degree programs to educate persons for the practice of ministry and for teaching and research in the theological disciplines. The Commission on Accrediting of ATS accredits the schools and approves the degree programs they offer.

Final drafts of proposed revised Degree Program Standards and proposed revisions to the Bylaws and Procedures
The Board of Commissioners invites member schools to review the final draft of the proposed revised Degree Program Standards in preparation for the Biennial Meeting in Minneapolis, June 20–22, where the draft will be presented for approval. Inquiries regarding the standards revisions may be addressed to standardsrevisions@ats.edu. Also for review are the proposed revisions to the Commission Bylaws and Procedures.

Degree Program Standards Lettering Guide

General Institutional Standards Numbering Guide

ES-Educational Standard

BASIC PROGRAMS ORIENTED TOWARD
MINISTERIAL LEADERSHIP
A-MDiv
B-MA (professional)
C-Music MAs (e.g., MCM, MSM)

BASIC PROGRAMS ORIENTED TOWARD
GENERAL THEOLOGICAL STUDIES
D-MA (academic)

ADVANCED PROGRAMS ORIENTED TOWARD
MINISTERIAL LEADERSHIP
E-DMin
F-EdD
G-Doctor of [area of specialization]
H-Music doctorates (e.g., DMA, DCM)

ADVANCED PROGRAMS ORIENTED TOWARD 
THEOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND TEACHING
I-ThM/STM
J-ThD/PhD

Current Degree Program Standards

Interpretation Conference Book
Please refer to the standards links above
(rather than to the printed standards inside this book)
for the definitive version recommended by the BOC.

(posted 05/05/12)

 

Interpretation Conference webinar

The ATS/COA Biennial Meeting on June 20–22, 2012, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, will feature discussions and a membership vote on the proposed revised Degree Program Standards.

In preparation for the presentation of the final draft of the standards, the Association and the Commission on Accrediting will sponsor an Interpretation Conference webinar on May 10,
3–6 p.m., EDT. The purpose of the webinar is to provide information about the final draft of proposed standards to be presented by the Board of Commissioners to member schools for consideration at the 2012 Biennial Meeting. Any employee of a Commission member school is invited to participate.

Please register by the deadline of Friday, April 27. At the close of registration, participants will receive call-in information.

The spring Colloquy now online
This issue unwraps the accrediting process and gives the reader an inside look at the work of the accrediting staff and the Board of Commissioners. Also included is a preview of the Biennial Meeting and articles focused on the topics of assessment and military chaplaincy. 

 

 

2011 Annual Data Tables now online
The ATS Annual Data Tables, compiled from the Annual Report Forms submitted by the Association’s 261 member schools, contain a wealth of information about student enrollment, faculty composition and compensation, and institutional finances and development.


The Future of Theological Research
This issue of Theological Education identifies and analyzes some of the challenges facing theological schools and offers some examples of substantive engagement with the challenges in particular settings. Read the editor's introduction for summaries of the articles and subscribe today to ensure your school benefits from this helpful information.

 

Final drafts of proposed standards coming soon
Final drafts of the proposed Degree Program Standards are currently being reformatted. The final texts will be published by May 7.

 

 

 

Revised Policy Manual now available
The Policy Manual contains all the policies adopted by the Board of Commissioners and addresses matters of board procedure and interpretation; the manual also contains the formally adopted guidelines the board has prepared for schools to use in petitioning the board for approval of a variety of institutional initiatives.

 

Handbook Section Six now updated
The revised Section Six of the Handbook of Accreditation contains petitioning guidelines adopted by the Board of Commissioners. The board expects member schools to be familiar with these guidelines, as they provide direction for interaction with the board.

2010-11 ESQ Total School Profile now available
We are pleased to make available the Total School Profile for the 2010-11 Entering Student Questionnaire. This report, generated from 6,707 students from 157 schools, provides a representative overview of the 2010 entering class. Schools having participated in the survey will be able to benchmark their data against this report.

Henry Luce III Fellows in Theology
The Henry Luce III Fellows in Theology program is a sabbatical program that supports the research of full-time faculty at accredited and candidate member institutions of ATS. Informational materials will be mailed by the end of July and the Overview and Application booklet is available online.

Lilly Theological Research Grants
The Lilly Theological Research Grants program is designed to provide support for the research efforts of full-time faculty in ATS accredited and candidate schools. Informational materials will be mailed to the schools by the end of July and the Overview and Application booklet is available online.
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The Board of Commissioners has directed staff to disclose official actions resulting from a board meeting only via the official action letter from the board to each school. Letters will be mailed within 30 days following the June 7-8 board meeting.

Public disclosure of such actions may be made only after the thirty-day appeal period.

Biennial Meeting
of the Association and the Commission 
Minneapolis, MN

The Biennial Meeting begins Wednesday,
June 20, and concludes Friday, June 22.

View the online brochure for details.

IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE BIENNIAL MEETING
CAOS Seminar
June 19, 2012

Transportation Planner
Reminder: Those attending either of these meetings should ensure they have a current passport
if their travel requires a border crossing
between the United States and Canada.
ACCREDITING ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
View schools receiving spring 2012 comprehensive evaluations on the Commission on Accrediting home page.
 
Institutions wishing to be considered for associate membership at the June 2012 ATS Biennial Meeting should submit materials by September 1, 2011.
 
Materials for the February 2013
Board of Commissioners meeting
must be received by November 1.
The deadline for the June 2012 meeting
has passed.
 
 
Implementation plan
for redeveloped standards
and procedures
provides for an interim period.
UPCOMING EVENTS

The ATS office will be closed
Monday, January 19,
in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. day.
Click here to see a complete listing of
 Association and Commission events.

Institutions wishing to be considered
for associate membership at the June 2010 ATS/COA Biennial Meeting should submit materials by October 1, 2009.
Materials for the June 2010 
Board of Commissioners meeting
must be received by April 1, 2010.
NEW BUS SERVICE FOR CAOS
AND BIENNIAL MEETINGS
The 747 Express Bus replaces the former shuttle service between the airport and hotel.

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The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools.
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