The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS)
10 Summit Park Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15275, USA
Telephone: 412.788.6505
Contact person: Loretta Groff
Fax: 412.788.6510
E-mail: ats@ats.edu
Website: http://www.ats.edu
Mission
The mission of The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) is to promote the improvement and enhancement of theological schools to the benefit of communities of faith and the broader public. The Association seeks to fulfill this mission by engaging in four core functions of work: (1) accreditation, (2) leadership education for administrative officers and faculty, (3) development of theological education, which involves the study of critical issues in theological education, and (4) data and communications.
MembershipThere are three categories of membership in the Association: Accredited Membership, Candidate for Accredited Membership, and Associate Membership. In spring 2001, there were 243 member schools of the Association: 210 were Accredited Members, 11 were Candidates for Accredited Membership, and 22 were Associate Members.
Accredited Members are institutions that, after review on the basis of the Association's standards, are voted by the ATS Commission on Accrediting into Accredited Membership. Candidate for Accredited Membership schools are currently engaged in a self-study as part of their review by the ATS Commission on Accrediting for initial accreditation. Associate Members are not accredited but have met the requirements for Associate Membership as set forth in the ATS "Constitution" and "Procedures Related to Membership and Accreditation" (ATS Bulletin, Part 1) and are voted into Associate Membership by the accredited member schools at Biennial Meetings of the Association.
The member schools include Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Orthodox graduate schoolsof theology that reflect a broad spectrum of doctrinal, ecclesiastical, and theological perspectives.
Legislative functions of the Association, such as the development of standards andprocedures for membership and accreditation, setting of membership dues, and changes in the Constitution are conducted at the Biennial Meetings of the Association, whichoccur in even-numbered years. The work of the Association is carried forward by the Executive Committee, the Commission on Accrediting, and other established committees.
Accreditation
The ATS Commission on Accrediting accredits institutions and approves degree programs offered by accredited schools. The Association's Commission on Accrediting is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and by the nongovernmental Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) for the accreditation of graduate, professional theological schools in the U.S. The ATS Commission on Accrediting works cooperatively with regional accrediting associations, other professional associations, state departments of education, and other allied organizations in Canada and the United States.
History
The Association began in 1918 as a conference of theological schools that met biennially. In 1936 it became an Association, adopted standards for judging quality, and in 1938 established a list of accredited schools. In 1956 it incorporated and secured a full-time staff. From its beginning, the Association has been representative in membership of both the United States and Canada. In 1964 it began publication of the journal, Theological Education. The Fact Book on Theological Education has been published annually since1969.
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