As seminaries reverse a 10-year enrollment decline, what does the future hold?
Thoreau reminded us to “never look back unless you are planning to go that way.” But if theology teaches us anything, it is to look back—with regularity and with great benefit. In the midst of our present challenging times, it can be beneficial to look back at some key data that illustrate the changes of the last decade and to highlight a few areas where those changes might take us in the coming decade— a look back to our future.
Enrollment growth by degree categories: For fall 2015, the overall head count enrollment in ATS schools increased—the first increase in more than a decade that was not due to adding new schools. Although the total increase was less than 1%, it reversed a decade-long trend that has reflected mostly annual decreases of 1–2% since 2004. Continue Reading
Unification Theological Seminary (UTS) is not yet a member of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), but UTS presidents and administrative staff have been welcomed at ATS conferences over the last 15 years.
Chris Meinzer is Senior Director of Administration and CFO and Tom Tanner is Director, Accreditation and Institutional Evaluation, both with The Association of Theological Schools.
