The faculty of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School is committed to designing effective programs and the concomitant evaluation of those programs in accordance with the mission of the School “to serve the church of the Living God by equipping servants for the work of the gospel of Christ worldwide” (Catalog). As such, there are a variety of academic programs offered at the school with varied purposes, objectives, and student learning outcomes.
Indicators of program effectiveness for these programs are numerous. Such indicators include both institutional and participant self-reported data that help to ensure congruence of vocational intention and theological education.
To aid in consistent and reliable reporting, some of the evaluative processes include reports to the Association of Theological Schools, our professional accrediting association. The institutional Annual Report to ATS (noted below asATS), the ATS Entering and/or Graduating Student Questionnaire (administered annually since 1996, and noted below as ESQ or GSQ), and the ATS Alumni/ae Questionnaire (administered in Spring 2012 to alumni/ae from Spring 2004 – Spring 2011, noted AQ) provide some of these data. The regular administration of these studies also enables longitudinal analysis of program effectiveness.
The following is a summary of those reports. Specific questions about the data, or its reporting and analysis may be directed to the Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Office of the Dean (TEDSdean@tiu.edu or 847-317-8086).
| Program |
Number of
Applicants |
Acceptances |
Number of
enrollees |
| Basic Programs Oriented Toward Ministerial Leadership |
| MDiv |
204 |
197 |
107 |
| MA in _______ (Specific) |
63 |
62 |
40 |
| NOTE: This includes MA in Mental Health Counseling, Counseling Ministries, Ministry, Urban Ministry |
| Basic Programs Oriented Toward General Theological Studies |
| MA |
116 |
114 |
61 |
| Advanced Programs Oriented Toward Ministerial Leadership |
| DMin |
21 |
16 |
5 |
| Advanced Programs Primarily Oriented Toward Theological Research and Teaching |
| ThM |
40 |
38 |
13 |
| PhD |
61 |
44 |
21 |
Completion Data for Graduates (ATS)
Fall 2011
| Program |
< 2 years |
2 – < 3 yers |
3 – < 4 years |
4 – < 5 years |
5 – < 6 years |
6 +
years |
Totals |
| Basic Programs Oriented Toward Ministerial Leadership |
| MDiv |
0 |
5 |
34 |
32 |
11 |
5 |
87 |
| MA in ______ (Specific) |
3 |
13 |
18 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
42 |
| NOTE: This includes MA in Mental Health Counseling, Counseling Ministries, Ministry, Urban Ministry |
| Basic Programs Oriented Toward General Theological Studies |
| MA |
8 |
16 |
16 |
10 |
0 |
9 |
59 |
| Advanced Programs Oriented Toward Ministerial Leadership |
| DMin |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
16 |
22 |
| Advanced Programs Oriented Toward Theological Research and Teaching |
| ThM |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
| PhD |
0 |
0 |
2 |
6 |
3 |
4 |
15 |
Position Expected After Graduation
Spring 2012
These data provided by new graduates reveal expectations of initial ministry position by degree area.
| MDiv Graduates |
| Parish ministry |
34.1% |
| Campus ministry |
7.3% |
| Inner-city ministry |
4.9% |
| Foreign missions |
4.9% |
| Youth ministry |
12.2% |
| Further graduate study |
4.9% |
| Other |
22.0% |
| Undecided |
4.9% |
| None |
4.9% |
| TOTAL |
100% |
|
|
| Offered a Position |
Yes // 59% |
|
No // 40.5% |
| Non-MDiv Graduates (GSQ T-21) |
| Parish ministry |
12.1% |
| College / university teaching |
7.1% |
| Seminary teaching |
7.1% |
| Social work / services |
6.1% |
| Foreign missions |
9.1% |
| Other |
36.4% |
| Undecided |
13.1% |
| None |
9.1% |
| TOTAL |
100% |
|
|
| Offered a Position |
Yes // 50.5% |
|
No // 49.5% |
| ALL STUDENTS |
| Senior or solo pastorate |
7.6% |
| Associate or assistant pastoral |
21.5% |
| Parachurch ministry |
6.9% |
| Missions |
13.9% |
| Education |
11.1% |
| Counseling |
7.6% |
| Pursuing further education |
10.4% |
| Non-church organization |
16.0% |
| Other |
4.9% |
| TOTAL |
99.9% |
First Professional Position Upon Graduation
Spring 2012
In a similar fashion, these data provided by alumni/ae reveal the actual first professional posting.
| MDiv Alumni/ae (AQ t-10A) |
| Ministry in same congregation as before graduation |
29.4% |
| Ministry in another congregation |
38.8% |
| Campus ministry or youth worker (not in a congregation) |
4.7% |
| Other |
27.1% |
| TOTAL |
100% |
| MA Professional Programs (AQ T-10B) |
| Ministry in same congregation as before graduation |
20% |
| Ministry in another congregation |
30% |
| Prison ministry |
10% |
| Missionary service (foreign / home) |
10% |
| Teaching in primary or secondary school |
10% |
| Social work / social services |
10% |
| Other |
10% |
| TOTAL |
100% |
| All others (AQ T-10c) |
| Ministry in same congregation as before graduation |
28.1% |
| Ministry in another congregation |
12.5% |
| Missionary service (foreign / home) |
10.9% |
| Teaching or administration in a seminary |
14.1% |
| Other |
34.4% |
| TOTAL |
100% |
Alumni/ae Length of Time to Obtain First Paid Professional Position (AQ T-11)
Spring 2012
An important criterion to understand the length of time necessary to find the first appointment. TEDS offers placement services for all graduates, including regular visits by a variety of church and denominational officials.
| MDiv |
| Working at graduation |
28.8% |
| Less than six months |
42.5% |
| Six months to a year |
12.5% |
| One to two years |
8.8% |
| Longer than two years |
7.5% |
| TOTAL |
100.1% |
| MA Professional |
| Working at graduation |
71.4% |
| Less than six months |
14.3% |
| Six months to a year |
14.3% |
| One to two years |
0% |
| Longer than two years |
0% |
| TOTAL |
100% |
| All Others |
| Working at graduation |
58.3% |
| Less than six months |
20% |
| Six months to a year |
8.3% |
| One to two years |
10% |
| Longer than two years |
3.3% |
| TOTAL |
99.9% |
Alumni/ae Current Employment Setting
Spring 2012
An important criterion to understand the length of time necessary to find the first appointment. TEDS offers placement services for all graduates, including regular visits by a variety of church and denominational officials.
| Those currently serving in A Congregation/Parish (AQ T-16A) |
| Sole pastor, priest, minister |
27.6% |
| Head of staff (priest or minister supervising other clergy staff) |
17.1% |
| Associate or assistant pastor, priest, or minister |
36.8% |
| Other |
18.5% |
| TOTAL |
100% |
| Those currently not service in A congregation/parish (AQ T-15) |
| Missionary service (foreign / home) |
9.6% |
| Teaching or administration in a seminary |
8.2% |
| Other teaching or administration in higher education |
24.7% |
| Other |
39.7% |
| Currently not employed |
17.8% |
| TOTAL |
100% |
MDiv Alumni/ae, Congregations, and the Church
Spring 2012
MDiv alumni in particular are many times practicioners in the congregational context. These data reveal their perceptions of preparation and educational effectiveness.
| Very well |
4 |
| Very well in some areas, lacking in others |
3 |
| Lacking in key areas |
2 |
| Very inadequately |
1 |
| How well theological education prepared mdiv alumni/ae for current work (AQ T-24) |
|
Average |
S.D. |
| Currently working in a congregation |
3.3 |
0.6 |
| Currently not working in a congregation |
3.2 |
0.7 |
| Very effective |
4 |
| Effective |
3 |
| Ineffective |
2 |
| Very ineffective |
1 |
| MDiv alumni/ae working in a congregation perception of “effectiveness of education in four areas of study” (AQ T-21) |
|
Average |
S.D. |
| Understanding of religious heritage |
3.6 |
0.7 |
| Understanding of the cultural context of religious work |
3 |
0.8 |
| Development in personal and spiritual formation |
2.9 |
1 |
| Capacity for ministerial and public leadership |
3.1 |
0.8 |
As the standard professional program for ministerial leadership, and thus ordination and licensing, these data reveal the MDiv alumni/ae pursuing such. It should be noted many alumni are not ordained until serving several years in the ministry, and this sample includes those who completed their MDiv in the past six years.
| Mdiv alumni/ae who are ordained or licensed (AQ T-8) |
| Ordained or equivalent status |
39.8% |
| Licensed, but not ordained |
18.3% |
| Neither |
41.9% |
| TOTAL |
100% |
Alumni/ae: Preparation for Professional Work
Spring 2012
As a seminary preparing persons for professional work in a variety of settings, the following notes areas of particular preparation.
| Area in which Teds “Best prepared you” (AQ -#4) |
| Building relationships with people |
5.1% |
| Counseling strategies and techniques |
7.9% |
| Financial management |
0.6% |
| General leadership |
6.8% |
| Missions/evangelism understanding |
14.7% |
| Personal spiritual formation |
10.2% |
| Preaching |
24.3% |
| Other |
30.4% |
| TOTAL |
100% |
| Area in which Teds “could have better prepared you” (AQ -#3) |
| Building relationships with people |
9.6% |
| Counseling strategies and techniques |
7.9% |
| Financial management |
6.8% |
| General leadership |
23.7% |
| Missions/evangelism understanding |
2.3% |
| Personal spiritual formation |
10.2% |
| Preaching |
4.5% |
| Working with church boards |
14.1 |
| Other |
20.9% |
| TOTAL |
100% |
Alumni/ae: Three Most Lasting Influences of Education Other Than Course Work (AQ T-22)
Spring 2012
Program effectiveness is measured not only in the classroom, but beyond as well. These data note the broader impact of program effectiveness.
| Alumni/AE: Lasting influences |
| Interactions with faculty |
18.7% |
| Experiences in ministry |
14.4% |
| Introductions to different perspectives |
11.9% |
| Interactions with students |
13.6% |
| Personal life experiences |
11.5% |
| Other |
29.9% |
| TOTAL |
100% |
Alumni/ae: Respondents Earning or Having Earned an Additional Degree (AQ T-4)
Spring 2012
Many TEDS program participants expect to pursue an additional degree. These indicate those pursuing further education.
| Those currently in a congregation |
| No degree earned |
81.9% |
| Currently earning a degree |
9.6% |
| Degree earned |
8.4% |
| TOTAL |
99.9% |
MDiv Alumni/ae: Percentage of Respondents Who Would Choose to Attend the Same Seminary Again (AQ T-28)
If a TEDS education was not effective, and the program was deficient, there would be little interest in “attending the same seminary again.” These data reveal a definite interest in attending TEDS again.
| MDiv alumni/ae in congregations |
| Definitely yes |
63% |
| Probably yes |
25.9% |
| Uncertain |
5.6% |
| Probably not |
5.6% |
| Definitely not |
0% |
| TOTAL |
99.9% |
