Bethany board increases tuition, prepares for accreditation renewal.

The Bethany Theological Seminary Board of Trustees gathered for a semi-annual meeting Oct. 28-30, 2005. The trustees approved a tuition increase, heard of progress in preparing for the seminary's accreditation renewal, celebrated an initial goal achieved by a fundraising campaign, approved sabbaticals for faculty, and welcomed new board members.

The board approved a recommendation from the Student and Business Affairs Committee for a 4.96 percent tuition increase effective in the 2006-07 academic year. The board also approved a student profile for the graduate programs, a working document that will be used by administration to set policy regarding financial aid and admissions efforts. Review of the financial aid program is a component of the seminary's "coherence in the graduate program" strategic initiative. The Recruitment and Student Development Committee reported that 24 students were admitted to the graduate school this fall.

The Academic Affairs Committee gave a progress report on self-study preparations and strategic initiatives for the accreditation review in the fall of 2006. The self-study based on 10 standards prescribed by the Association of Theological Schools will be presented to the board in the spring.

A report also was received of revisions to the course structure of Connections, the seminary's distributed education program, from Dan Ulrich, associate professor of New Testament Studies and director of Distributed Education; and also reviewed a report from the first Connections student cohort about the group's experience in the program.

Recommendations for faculty sabbaticals in 2006 were approved including a Dec. 2005-April 2006 sabbatical for Stephen Breck Reid, academic dean; a spring 2006 sabbatical for Tara Hornbacker, associate professor of Ministry Formation; and a fall 2006 sabbatical for Ulrich, in anticipation of his return to fulltime teaching following.

The Institutional Advancement Committee heard that the seminary has achieved its initial goal for a fundraising campaign titled "Inspired by the Spirit--Educating for Ministry." The campaign received gifts and commitments totaling more than $15,700,000. In other financial reports, the Audit Committee reported that once again Bethany has received an unqualified report--the highest commendation possible--from its auditors for the 2004-05 fiscal year. The Investment Committee has developed criteria for evaluating the seminary's investment managers, with guidelines that conform more closely to the benchmarks of each.

Bethany teaching faculty reported on their participation in the Lexington Seminar supported by Lilly Endowment, Inc., and sponsored by Lexington Theological Seminary. The seminar is focused on theological teaching for the churches' ministries, and seeks to support faculty, president, and dean working together on an issue critical for the institution. Criteria for selection include demonstrated academic integrity and excellence, a faculty and administration committed to working together to improve teaching and learning for the ministries of the church, and stability needed to implement a project that will have an effect on on the way the institution carries out its mission. Bethany is one of 35 seminaries participating.

The board welcomed new members John David Bowman of Lititz, Pa.; and Paul Wampler of Manassas, Va.; as well as Lisa Hazen of Wichita, Kan., and Jim Hardenbrook of Nampa, Idaho, who were unable to attend the meeting.

For more information about Bethany Theological Seminary go to www.brethren.org/bethany.

Source: 2/1/2006 Newsline
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