Crucial the the recruitment and admissions of UM students to UDTS is that UDTS employs two full-time UM Faculty, Dr. El Colyer and Dr. Matt Schlimm. In addition, UDTS has had a robust UM Studies Program launched in 1970 in conversation with the Iowa Annual Conference of the UM Church, including the key role planned by the noted African American Bishop James Thomas. The UM faculty and students at UDTS over the subsequent 50+ years have created a living network of relationships between UDTS, the UM Studies Program, and the UM Faculty and students and the surrounding UM Annual Conferences. UDTS graduates have been District Superintendents, served on Boards of Ordained Ministry, and been appointed as the Lead Pastor of the largest UM congregations in the surrounding UM annual conferences. In those role UDTS UM alumni have played formal and informal roles in recruiting UM students to UDTS.
In addition, The United Methodist Studies Program and The Admissions Office hosts UDTS alumni and friends events at each of the UM Annual Conference yearly meetings. Many UM students have discovered UDTS and entered the admissions process through these yearly events. Dr. Colyer and Dr. Schlimm have both established remarkable reputations with leaders in all of the surrounding UM annual Conferences. The Director of the UDTS UM Studies Program provides information to UDTS alumni and friends and to leaders in all of the surrounding annual conferences regularly in a variety of ways. Finally, UDTS is listed a Seminary approved by the UM University Senate for training UM candidates for ministry and included in the list of approved Seminary posted on various UM websites including the UM General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and the websites of nearly every Board of Ordained Ministry.