Student Services
The church stewards the vocations of students along a continuing journey through four stages (or moves of spiritual formation.Students are named as baptized children of God within a Christian community, called into leadership in God’s mission, discipled through the whole of their theological education, and sent out to be leaders in a variety of Christian communities.The work of the Student Services team is directly involved in three of the four moves: called, discipled, and sent. This work is done in different ways in each of the four educational processes.
Goal 12.1
Collaborate with the church in developing an effective system for calling, discipling, and sending people with the potential for leadership in Christian communities. By 2005, we will enroll and graduate the following numbers of students in Luther Seminary’s four distinct educational processes:
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1998-99
Enroll/Grad.
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2000-01
Enroll/Grad.
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2001-02
Enroll/Grad.
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2002-03
Enroll/Grad.
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2003-04
Enroll/Grad.
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2004-05
Enroll/Grad.
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M.Div.
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121/93
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128/100
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132/103
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136/106
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140/109
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144/112
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|
M.A.
|
63/42
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75/50
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88/56
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101/67
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114/76
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127/85
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|
Ph.D.
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12/1
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12/3
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13/4
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15/6
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17/7
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20/8
|
|
M.Th.
|
15/7
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15/5
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15/5
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15/6
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15/6
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15/6
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|
D.Min.
|
18/7
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18/7
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20/8
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22/9
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24/10
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26/12
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Lifelong
Learning
Clergy
Lay
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728
355
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|
|
|
|
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Strategies
A. Strategies for Calling:
• In light of an initial needs assessment for various types of leaders, develop enrollment and graduation goals in each of the four educational processes and in cooperation with each of the six Work Groups (initially by December 1999 and refine by May 2000).
• Develop enrollment strategies for all four educational processes in coordination with all six Work Groups and reflective of the needs for specific types of leaders:
- Identify and encourage persons in the Lifelong Learning process whose calls flow into M.A., M.Div., or graduate processes.
- Coordinate specifically with the Point Persons in the M.A. specializations to develop materials and recruitment strategies.
- Coordinate with each of the Work Groups to develop further strategies and actively involve broad-based participation in implementation steps.
• Develop marketing/recruitment materials specific and appropriate to the educational processes and in coordination with all six Work Groups, giving special focus on invitation to fulfilling God’s call through these specific educational processes.
• Develop Web Page capacity for identifying and calling prospective students in the distinctive processes and across an ecumenical spectrum.
• Develop, coordinate, package, and market a comprehensive, flexible schedule of course offerings to complete (initially) the first year of M.Div. program and for (initially) the core components of M.A. programs for commuter and distance students and full-time workers.
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Develop a plan for offering the entire M.Div./M.A. curriculum with on-campus spiritual formation components.
Develop the means for incorporating and giving on-line students access to seminary community and services, including admissions application and registration.
- Coordinate and complement this system with that of the Lifelong Learning offerings and use of technology.
• Collaborate with ELCA Churchwide units and synods and the Western Mission Cluster to identify and nurture youth and adults who have gifts for a missional leadership.
• Determine and coordinate staffing needs to support enrollment goals for the educational processes and for students from a wide range of church affiliations.
• Systematize the incorporation of faculty, staff, and seminary community in the entire enrollment process—from invitation or inquiry through registration—both on and off campus, giving special attention to the involvement of the six Work Groups. Develop appropriate materials for faculty and staff to use off campus.
• Infuse all stages of calling, discipling, and sending with a sense of hospitality and intentional welcoming environment.
• Develop additional, appropriate tracking information to support enrollment initiatives.
• Review, modify, and expand as necessary the comprehensive financial aid/scholarship program to attract and support students for the four educational processes.
B. Strategies for Discipling:
• Continue to refine present survey of student body to determine demographic information (for each incoming class) and issues related to the contexts within which students complete their seminary study. Coordinate with the Work Groups to determine further information needed and systematize a communication loop to those in need of the findings.
• Infuse the entire seminary educational process with components which foster intentional patterns for health and wellness among students, faculty, and staff.
- Explore the need for facilities and/or equipment to support patterns of health and wellness.
- Continue to promote and enhance Parish Nurse program.
- Coordinate with Student Council and Academic Dean to survey family, work, study, and spiritual patterns among students.
• Develop opportunities to model and practice public discourse within a community of mutual respect, moral integrity, and honest inquiry.
• Develop and implement a structured process of discipleship and spiritual formation that is integrated into the entire process of theological education and intentional for students in all four educational processes. Coordinate this process with each of the six Work Groups.
- Coordinate with Discipleship Task Force and Student Council to survey the student body to determine effective practices and further opportunities in spiritual formation and discipleship. Develop further strategies based on findings.
- Assess present effectiveness of Discipleship I and II and make recommendations accordingly. (Students and Faculty)
- Sponsor an ecumenical symposium on spiritual formation and discipleship for the purpose of developing concrete initiatives. (Explore grant possibilities with Minneapolis Area Synod)
- Offer Motivated Pattern Approximation to all students (through Ministry by Design).
• Develop comprehensive on-campus mentoring and candidacy support for specific denominational students. Involve faculty, the six Work Groups, and staff in this process.
• Continue to develop and utilize the Student Achievement Program.
C. Strategies for Sending:
• Work with the Academic Dean’s office and the six Work Groups to track the effectiveness of the calling, discipling, and sending processes in educating leaders for Christian communities.
• Work with the Division for Ministry/ELCA to review the effectiveness of the candidacy process measured against the “Imperatives in Study for Theological Education.”
• Enhance relationships with all synods to which Luther Seminary students relate.
• Support candidates for rostered ministry in their assignment and call processes and all students for their placement into their first position.
• Collaborate with others to develop appropriate “sending rituals” at significant stages in the educational processes.
• Provide for regular communication with and among alums through the seminary Website.
• Teach graduates of all educational processes how to use the system for lifelong learning in the congregations and Christian communities they serve.
• Facilitate easy movement between the four educational processes and teach graduates of all educational processes how to access other processes for themselves and for those they mentor.
• Systematize the challenge to alums to foster the discernment and calling of future leaders and provide print and other materials for their use.
• Provide opportunity and motivation to bring every alum back to campus for educational event(s) during the first 2-3 years after graduation.
• Make connections between Kairos, First Call Theological Education, and the synods.
• Make Luther Seminary a resource for First Call Theological Education.
