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Smaller theological schools face distinct challenges. One of those challenges is how to provide coverage for a comprehensive theological curriculum while maintaining a reasonable teaching load for elected faculty members while also providing for student needs. Another is finding qualified…
Continue readingThe formative assessment of academic programs is one of the fundamental tasks of deans. Deans must focus on the “big picture,” working with program-level metrics often out of the scope (and interest) of others in the institution. Big picture program…
Continue readingAt this time of the year, semester’s end, while Faculty wistfully anticipate taking advantage of the three best things about teaching (June, July, and August), many deans are turning their attention to wrapping up the academic year. End-of-term activities take…
Continue readingWillie Niegro was the shipping supervisor at the warehouse where I worked summers during high school. He’d been there over 20 years, overseeing the shipping of crates and pallets out the truck bays at the rear of the warehouse. He…
Continue readingTo help Faculty make better curricular decisions, philosophical, programmatic, and pragmatic, Deans need to help Faculty understand the curriculum as a whole. Rather than seeing a theological curriculum as a series of topical courses, the mission of the seminary is…
Continue readingCurriculum integration is an ideal theological school Faculties desire, and sometimes, strive for. Unfortunately, without intentional curriculum design, integration happens more by happenstance and serendipity than by well-crafted intent. Sometimes faculty members attempt occasional team teaching as a way to…
Continue readingIt’s that time of the year when I cull my bookshelf. Nine bookcases of books at the office and four at home is more than I need. I’ll put some volumes out on a small table in the hallway for…
Continue readingAt a recent consultation with a school I once again encountered the dilemma faced by school leaders who lack a background in the field of education. This school has been in existence for ten years, well past the “make it…
Continue readingDeans in theological schools tend to come up from among the Faculty, often out of academic disciplines not grounded in the field of education. While many have become effective teachers through years of classroom experience (often learning through trial and…
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