UDTS ATS Accreditation 2024

Standard 7: Student Services

• Standard 7: Student Services

  • 7. Student Services: Theological schools are communities of faith and learning with a central focus on students and on serving them well. Student services personnel share responsibility with faculty, administrators, staff, and students themselves for creating the conditions under which students engage appropriately in educationally purposeful activities. Student services personnel help foster supportive learning environments, bridge organizational boundaries, and form collaborative partnerships to enhance student learning and formation. These services contribute to the school’s overall mission and consider the specific needs of students pursuing graduate theological education.
    

  • Student Services Personnel

  • 7.1 The school has or has access to a sufficient number of qualified student services personnel to meet the needs of students. These personnel receive adequate resources and professional development to accomplish their work effectively, participate in institutional decisions affecting student services, and advocate for the particular needs of students in their context.
    

  • Student Recruitment and Admissions

  • 7.2 The school has recruitment policies and practices that are consistent with its mission, resources, constituencies, and educational offerings. Those policies and practices accurately represent the school and the vocational opportunities related to its degree programs.
    

  • 7.3 The school has clearly defined admissions policies appropriate to each degree program it offers and to the school’s mission and vision. These policies are fairly implemented and encourage diversity appropriate to the school’s context and theological commitments. Policies are reviewed regularly to ensure the overall quality of the student population, as well as a sufficient community of learning in each degree program.
    

  • 7.4 The school admits students to master’s degrees who have an accredited baccalaureate degree or its educational equivalent and meet any other requirements specified for that master’s degree. Students without an accredited baccalaureate degree or its equivalent may be admitted to a master’s degree if the school documents through rigorous means that those students are prepared to do master’s-level work. Students admitted to doctoral degrees have an accredited master’s degree or its educational equivalent in a field deemed appropriate by the school and meet any other requirements specified for that doctoral degree.
    

  • Student Support Services

  • 7.5 The school has appropriate, reliable, and accessible support services and programming for all students. Services and programs are designed to create an environment in which student learning and formation is fostered, retention is strengthened, and student safety is addressed. These services are regularly evaluated to ensure they are appropriate and adequate for the school, its degree programs, its delivery modes, and the diversity of its student community. A school that utilizes student services of another entity demonstrates the effectiveness of those services for its theological students.
    

  • 7.6 The school communicates clearly to all students their rights and responsibilities, the school’s code of conduct, and appropriate procedures for making formal complaints. The school publicizes a defined process for responding to complaints raised by students, and it maintains records of formal complaints related to the Standards and Policies, the process followed, and the decisions made.
    

  • 7.7 The school adequately maintains student records related to admissions, coursework, and other areas as determined by its programs and policies. These records are appropriately secured from loss or unauthorized access. The school maintains the privacy of student information in ways that meet all applicable laws and regulations, including, as necessary, those from ecclesial or denominational bodies.
    

  • Student Financial Aid and Borrowing

  • 7.8 The school has equitable and nondiscriminatory systems for processing financial aid that meet all applicable laws and regulations. Financial aid policies and processes are published, available to all students, regularly reviewed by the school, and updated as needed.
    

  • 7.9 The school regularly reviews student educational debt and, as necessary, develops strategies to minimize borrowing, explores alternative funding, and communicates to students the potential consequences of educational debt.
    

  • Student Career and Placement Services

  • 7.10 The school ensures that students have access to appropriate vocational counseling and placement guidance or services that are relevant to their degrees and consistent with the school’s mission and religious context.
    

  • 7.11 The school monitors the placement of graduates and regularly gathers feedback on the school’s educational effectiveness from graduates and the places where they serve. Admissions policies and curricula are regularly reviewed and adjusted to ensure that students are adequately prepared to serve in their particular vocational contexts.
    

    Note: Graduating Student Questionnaire is the primary feedback tool. We also implement alumni questionnaire every three years - that should happen this spring. - LW

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    Additional Evidence

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    Student services personnel 4/11 Forum

    Mark as done
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    Student Recruitment and Admissions - 4/12 Forum

    Mark as done
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    Programming and support services for students - 4/15 Forum

    Mark as done