September 16, 2002
Truett Seminary gains full accreditation
___WACO--Truett Seminary at Baylor University has earned accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada.
___ATS is the primary accrediting body for seminaries and theology schools in North America. ATS accreditation signals acceptance of a school by its peer institutions and allows students and graduates to transfer credits to and from similarly accredited schools.
___Founded in 1994, Truett Seminary first received associate member status with ATS in 1998, then was upgraded to candidate status in 2000.
___With its new accredited status, Truett is a full-fledged member of the association. The current accreditation, which includes the master of divinity program and preliminary approval of the doctor of ministry program, is good through 2007.
___Through its affiliation with Baylor, Truett Seminary also is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
___According to Dean Paul Powell and Associate Dean David Garland, the ATS team that made an on-site visit to Truett gave a highly positive report.
___"The report from the site team and their effusive oral commendations caught us by surprise," Garland said. "We knew we were doing good work, but we were heartened to have that confirmed by a rigorous examination by our peers."
___Garland expressed gratitude to Baylor President Robert Sloan, who was founding dean of the seminary, and the seminary's founding faculty for their "creative, original vision for seminary education."
___The ATS Commission on Accrediting cited several "distinctive" strengths of Truett in its report: An "attractive and serviceable physical plant," "a supportive university community" and "competent, caring and committed faculty who participate in the distinctive character of the seminary." The commission also commended Truett's master of divinity curriculum as "well-designed."
___The commission recommended that in the near future Truett should hire a theological librarian and monitor growth in enrollment and placement opportunities.
___"Their only fear was that our growth would outstrip our resources, but through good stewardship, we will take great care that that does not happen," Powell said.
___Truett has grown from 51 students in 1994 to 360 today. In the past eight years, the seminary has conferred 160 master of divinity degrees.
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