As Director of the UM Studies Program. This involves multi-directional accountability for the Program.
1. Once every 4 years I file a comprehensive report to the University Senate of the United Methodist Church. In that report (see the attachment) I have to demonstrate that UM Studies Program and UDTS meet all the criteria established by the University Senate for non-United Methodist seminaries that want permission to prepare UM candidates for for ordained ministry. Here is a list of the materials requested by the University Senate"
Please submit the following materials from your institution to the University Senate to seek approval for the training of United Methodist candidates for ordination December 1, 2021:
• A copy of the charter and bylaws;
• The most recent catalog and selected admissions material;
• The most recent institutional self-study;
• The report of the visiting committees of the regional accrediting agency and of the Association of Theological Schools;
• The institutional response to reports from the regional accrediting agency and the Association of Theological Schools;
• Action letters of the regional accrediting agency and of the Association of Theological Schools and any subsequent reports required;
• The financial audits and management letters from the three most recent years;
• Copies of the institutional affirmative action plan and/or other relevant policies, plans, and practices;
• A written report regarding ways the institution demonstrates its church relatedness;
• The completed document “Data Report Form” enclosed;
• The course title, number, description, requirements, and the amount of academic credit offered for courses in United Methodist History, Doctrine, and Polity;
• An outline with a list of topics to be covered for courses in United Methodist History, Doctrine, and Polity;
• A bibliography of required and supplementary reading material for courses in United Methodist History, Doctrine, and Polity;
• Vitae of instructors teaching courses in United Methodist History, Doctrine and Polity
Also see the attached documents for the Criteria provided by the University Senate, the supporting documents the Senate uses to ground the criteria, and the 2021 Report UDTS submitted to the Senate. The supporting documents (over 100 items) UDTS sent to the Senate with the Report are available upon request.
The Director of the UM Studies Program also works with the UM Bishops and Cabinets and the Boards of Ordained Ministry providing another form of accountability to insure that UDTS UM graduates are prepared for the specific emphases in indigenous to the particular identity and concerns of each UM Annual Conferences (Iowa, Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, Illinois Great Rivers). This accountability happens in a variety of ways including the Director of the UM Studies Program meeting with members of the Cabinets, members of the Boards of Ordained Ministry, inviting leaders from the UM Annual Conferences to UDTS to meet with UM students and faculty, and the UM faculty of UDTS visiting Annual Conferences, among other activities.
The Director of the UM Studies Program also regularly evaluates the required UM Studies courses (Doctrine, History, and Polity) to ensure that the objectives, requirements, and outcomes of the courses are compliant with the University Senate standards for each of those courses. (See the attached document of standards for those courses.
Finally, the Director of the UM Studies Program is evaluated annually by the Dean of the Seminary providing internal accountability of the UM Studies Program, UM courses, and other responsibilities of the Director to the Mission of the Seminary and University.
Rev. Dr. Elmer M. Colyer
Professor of Systematic Theology
Stanley Professor of Wesley Studies
Director of the UM Studies Program.