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Featured ATS Board Meeting

Discussion in 'Baptist Colleges & Seminaries' started by preachinjesus, Jun 19, 2012.

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  1. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    Word is that ATS will be meeting tomorrow and expanding their accreditation guidelines to include 100% online degrees for members.

    So what say ye?

    I'm fer it.
     
    #1 preachinjesus, Jun 19, 2012
  2. Greektim

    Greektim Well-Known Member

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    That would be awesome!!! But I understand their hesitation.
     
    #2 Greektim, Jun 19, 2012
  3. mont974x4

    mont974x4 New Member

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    My bride and I both earned our BA's entirely online. Her's was through University of Phoenix. I took some classes through them and can attest to the level of work involved. My BA is from Nazarene Bible College. A lot of work went into the classes. This was made harder for a 5 pointer attending an Arminian school. :lol

    Keep in mind all schools have a variety of teachers and some are naturally easier on students than others. Just as there are a variety of students and some work harder than others.
     
    #3 mont974x4, Jun 19, 2012
  4. TCGreek

    TCGreek New Member

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    Aye, me too.
     
    #4 TCGreek, Jun 19, 2012
  5. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    The resistance has been difficult to maintain but understandable. The online learning opportunities have been expanding rapidly and ATS has been one of the last accrediting bodies to enter the fray. Too much of online has been lax learning compared to on campus methods, though this is changing.

    I'd be thrilled to see ATS move in a positive direction in this area. It would definitely help schools be able to integrate distance learning that is reputable and rigorous. Online/distance learning is the future of education.

    Should be interesting to see how the meeting goes...and then what schools begin applying for ATS accreditation. :)
     
    #5 preachinjesus, Jun 19, 2012
  6. mjohnson7

    mjohnson7 Member

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    Wow!! Did I feel the earth tremble?? Indeed, that would be good news!!
     
    #6 mjohnson7, Jun 22, 2012
  7. Havensdad

    Havensdad New Member

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    Wonder if my alma-mater, Liberty, will apply for ATS accreditation if this goes through?
     
    #7 Havensdad, Jun 22, 2012
  8. Broadus

    Broadus Member

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    ATS has been brought kicking and screaming to accrediting fully online seminaries. Frankly, I think ATS has little choice if it wants to remain relevant.
     
    #8 Broadus, Jun 30, 2012
  9. Crucified in Christ

    Crucified in Christ New Member

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    ATS has posted a PDF of the changes that they are making. They will not go into effect until June of 2013, but (if I am reading it correctly) it appears that fully online "Distance Education" will be accredited under a 19 point checklist of standardization.
     
    #9 Crucified in Christ, Jul 2, 2012
  10. mjohnson7

    mjohnson7 Member

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    From the ATS Documents

    Below is taken from the previous MDiv standards and the new ones after their meeting. They way I read it, it isn't a "slam dunk" for online degree programs, however it's certainly more favorable than the 2010 document.


     
    #10 mjohnson7, Jul 2, 2012
  11. Martin

    Martin Active Member

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    As the Ghostbusters said about the arrival of the Titanic in 1989..."better late than never." I took some time to read the document and it is certainly a change for the better. However some of the language is still a bit foggy so it will be interesting to see how seminaries respond to the change.

    Martin.
     
    #11 Martin, Jul 8, 2012
  12. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    Thanks for all who have added thoughts and even the accepted wording.

    I agree it's murky at best and I betcha it's that way for a reason. ATS isn't likely to begin accepting a bunch of new schools (Liberty, Grand Canyon, etc) but will probably allow this wording to expand current institutional offerings. They simply had to do this because they were threatened with institutional oblivion if they hadn't.

    Several schools I know of we're at the point that they were going to walk on ATS if they didn't change. However, I think they've a got long road ahead of them. Lots of these schools have already lost ground to other institutions that got out first.

    Well should be intriguing to see what happens. I think the SBC schools are prime candidates for expansion...fast expansion.
     
    #12 preachinjesus, Jul 8, 2012
  13. Jack Matthews

    Jack Matthews New Member

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    The key here is that ATS sets the standards, and the schools, whether they are on-line, or on campus, have to meet the standards. There is some fear, naturally, but the key word is still "standards." There are some online schools that will have to raise theirs if they want ATS approval, in the same way that a traditional campus would have to do if they were seeking accreditation.

    Methods of delivering higher theological education are changing rapidly, and ATS has to keep up. This is a good thing.
     
    #13 Jack Matthews, Jul 8, 2012
  14. mjohnson7

    mjohnson7 Member

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    Any conjecture on which, if any, SBC seminaries (big 6) will be the first to move to a more distance friendly approach?

    If I were a betting man.....and I am NOT.......I would put my money on Midwestern. They've already purposely found a way to circumvent the ATS with their offering of an MA thru Midwestern Baptist College, SBC (which doesn't have ATS accreditation). With financial issues always looming, I would offer up Midwestern as the first to dip its toe in the water.

    Any thoughts?
     
    #14 mjohnson7, Jul 9, 2012
  15. Broadus

    Broadus Member

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    Midwestern would be my guess, too, though I wouldn't be surprised to see Southeastern and New Orleans do something more.

    Bill
     
    #15 Broadus, Jul 9, 2012
  16. Rhetorician

    Rhetorician Administrator
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    Broadus Response

    Hello my esteemed friend!!

    Why Brother Broadus whatever do you mean? Is there some implication in your statement, dear brother, concerning those (our) beloved SBC institutions? LOL!! :smilewinkgrin:

    This is said "tongue in cheek" as you well know.

    "That is all!"
     
    #16 Rhetorician, Jul 10, 2012
  17. Broadus

    Broadus Member

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    We're not often on the cutting edge of technological change, are we? My guess is that our beloved SBTS will be the last to offer a complete online degree. I would gladly be proven wrong.

    Bill
     
    #17 Broadus, Jul 10, 2012
  18. Rhetorician

    Rhetorician Administrator
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    Bill,

    Do you really want, or think that the workhorse MDiv degree would be worth anything if done outside of the community of scholars / students and without access to the Boyce Library?

    I am just old school I guess?! I was the first to put a religion course on the Blackboard delivery system at our little college. And I want you to know that the student's work IS NOT as good as in class. This is just my little rant!!

    I remember a little couplet ole Dr. Beaman at Mid America taught me many years ago:

    Do not be the first by whom the new is tried--
    Nor yet the last to lay the old aside.

    I suppose I am the last of the old in some categories.

    "That is all!" :smilewinkgrin:
     
    #18 Rhetorician, Jul 10, 2012
  19. Broadus

    Broadus Member

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    Roger, I don't recall saying anything about the MDiv. ;) An MA, though, as well as a BA from Boyce, is another story.

    Bill
     
    #19 Broadus, Jul 10, 2012
  20. Rhetorician

    Rhetorician Administrator
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    Broadus Response

    Dear Brother:

    When you mentioned the illustrious SBTS, I just "assumed" the seminary and the "work horse" degree of seminary education--the MDiv degree. For this mistake I beg your indulgence.

    I tip my hat to your astute critical insight. I do appreciate your views and friendship. Be blest my brother!

    "That is all!" :praying: Praying for you.
     
    #20 Rhetorician, Jul 11, 2012
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