President Spurgin to attend key conferences in December
This December, UTS president, Dr. Hugh Spurgin is attending two important higher education conferences. Staying current with changing expectations, mandates, and requirements for institutions of higher education is vital in order to maintain good standing, but it is also key to showing competency, reliability, and progress in an increasingly complex and diverse education environment.
UTS is firmly committed to maintaining the standards required, and seeks to learn from- and adopt the best-practices of other leading institutions. Dr. Spurgin’s attendance at these two proceedings is an important part of his job in leading UTS forward in 2016.
UTS first received accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) in 1996.
Though UTS is not yet a member of ATS, UTS presidents and administrative staff have been welcomed at ATS conferences over the last 15 years.
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is holding its annual conference in Washington D.C. from December 2-4. The MSCHE is the accrediting body for UTS and 522 other higher education institutions in the Middle States (see below).
About MSCHE
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is a voluntary, non-governmental, regional membership association currently serving higher education institutions in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and other geographic areas in which the Commission conducts accrediting activities.
Mission
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education assures students and the public of the educational quality of higher education. The Commission’s accreditation process ensures institutional accountability, self-appraisal, improvement, and innovation through peer review and the rigorous application of standards within the context of institutional mission.
The Conference
The 2015 MSCHE Annual Conference will offer attendees a group of plenary speakers who will provide unique perspectives on the challenges facing MSCHE institutions. As always, the outstanding pre-conference workshops and the conference’s concurrent sessions will delve into issues such as assessment, the self-study process, substantive change, strategic planning, compliance with federal regulations, and much more.
For more information visit MSCHE 2015 Annual Conference
The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) is holding a seminar for seminary presidents (limited to those who are in their first three years in office) in New Orleans, December 8-10. Experienced leaders will move the new presidents through issues associated with the president’s role as CEO. Speakers will address the value in the equilibrium model, institutional advancement, faculty relations, and team building.
About ATS
More than 270 graduate schools of theology in the United States and Canada form The Association of Theological Schools. Member schools conduct post-baccalaureate professional and academic degree programs to educate persons for the practice of ministry and for teaching and research in the theological disciplines. These schools differ from one another in deep and significant ways, but through their membership in ATS, they demonstrate a commitment to shared values about what constitutes good theological education. Collectively, ATS member schools enroll approximately 74,500 students and employ more than 7,200 faculty and administrators.
Mission
To promote the improvement and enhancement of theological schools to the benefit of communities of faith and the broader public
Seminar Goals
- To share with newly appointed presidents of theological schools the Leadership That Works study of theological school presidents and address the five essential functions of presidential leadership: team building, faculty relations, financial management, institutional advancement, and vision for the institution.
- To provide opportunities for new presidents to network with peers and with experienced presidents and experts on facets of presidential work.
- To identify tools for the work of the president.
For information, visit 2015 Seminar for New Presidents in ATS Institutions