The Imaginary Correlation
Today, we continue to look at operational models and student debt in ATS seminaries. On the docket for today is correcting a common misconception regarding the price of tuition and student debt.
Today, we continue to look at operational models and student debt in ATS seminaries. On the docket for today is correcting a common misconception regarding the price of tuition and student debt.
Theological education is facing a three-sided challenge: Cost, Price, and Value. It is important for us to embrace this challenge as an opportunity to shape a bright future…
Educational debt is a growing issue among seminarians. Let’s spend some time looking at what may need to change…(Read more…)
Since 2003, total enrollment in seminaries across the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) has declined by about 7% and giving has decreased by about 2%. During that same period of time, the amount seminaries are spending to deliver theological education has risen by about 30%. If you are a visual person, you can see all…
As we create new programs, new financial models, or innovative support systems for theological education, we may find that the traditional ways of measuring the financial impact of our programs are not as helpful as they once were. That is exactly what we have found at Northern Seminary. Today I want to look briefly at…
Financial support is an important aspect of institutional support. While is not a dominant revenue source at most institutions, it is vital to the work we do. In many ways, it bridges the gap and enables institutions to pursue their missions. In addition, it is a great way for people to participate in the work…
We are facing unprecedented change in theological education. Enrollment is declining, financial models are being challenged, and longtime assumptions are no longer true. Students, accreditors, the federal government, and local ministries are all demanding more from seminaries and the system of theological education. What are we to do? I say it is time to learn…
According to data from ATS, there are five different revenue models for independent schools within ATS (70% of ATS seminaries are independent). I find the information provides great context for conversations among leaders of a given institution. Following a description of the data, I will share a few points of interest. Let’s look at the…
I believe we need to make a fundamental shift in how we describe affordable theological education. Over the past few weeks I have had numerous conversations about the cost of education, the changes that are happening and what seminaries can or should be doing about them. Such conversations are obviously much more intricate than one…
In the first post on this topic, I shared how I believe it may be time to stop using FTE as a metric because it doesn’t serve institutions well when it comes to planning. In this post we are going to look at a few of my thoughts related to finding better metrics. Total Active…