Introduction
This informed consent form is for participants in The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) Student Questionnaires, including the Entering Student Questionnaire (ESQ), the Graduating
Student Questionnaire (GSQ), and the Alumni/ae Questionnaire (AQ). These surveys are administered by your member school in partnership with ATS, an organization of more than 270 graduate
theological institutions in the United States and Canada. The surveys are designed to gather feedback from students and alumni to help improve theological education.
Purpose of the Surveys
The surveys collect data on demographics, motivations for attending a theological school, satisfaction with theological education, professional plans, and financial information such as
student debt.
Benefits of Participation
- Your participation helps your member school and ATS understand and enhance the quality and effectiveness of graduate theological education.
- Your member school will use the data to evaluate and assess its programs and services.
- ATS will use the data to understand larger trends in theological education abd may provide custom group reports for certain regions, clusters of schools, or denominations.
Confidentiality
- Your individual privacy will be maintained.
- Information you provide will be used only in aggregate form with all identifying information removed.
- All datasets, reports, publications, and presentations will protect your privacy.
Voluntary Participation
- Your participation is voluntary. You have the right to refuse to answer any standard question for any reason, without penalty. Schools may require a response to any custom question.
- Your decision to participate, or not, will not affect your relationship with ATS. If you have questions about participation, please contact the administrator at your school inviting
you to participate.
Length of Surveys
- The ESQ and GSQ take 15–20 minutes to complete.
- The AQ may take slightly longer.
Survey Administration
- The surveys are administered online. You will receive an email from your member school with the link needed to access the survey.
- You should complete the survey in one sitting using a computer or tablet. If you do not complete the survey in one sitting, your answers will be lost.
Data Use
- Your member school and ATS will use the data to improve the quality of theological education and make informed decisions about programs, services, and resources.
- ATS may share deidentified data with researchers to contribute to broader studies on theological education.
Consent
By clicking “Begin” on the survey through the link you receive, you are indicating your consent to participate. You may withdraw your consent at any time by closing the survey
window.
Contact Information
If you have questions or concerns about the surveys, please contact:
- The administrator at your school inviting you to participate
- ATS Student Data Team at qmail@ats.edu
(Revised October 2024)
