Assessing Student Formation: A New Set of Core Assessment Tools
DESCRIPTION: Research spotlight by psychologists Steven J. Sandage (Boston University School of Theology) and Peter J. Jankowski (Bethel Seminary of Bethel University) introducing the Seminary Formation Assessment (SFA), a new set of core assessment tools grounded in the Relational Spirituality Model (RSM). Developed with data from over 1,000 students at 18 Christian seminaries (Catholic, Evangelical, Orthodox, Historically Black, and Mainline Protestant) in Canada and the United States, with additional validation from U.S. Jewish seminaries, the SFA uses 50 self-report items to measure four key dimensions of formation: (1) spiritual dwelling—aptitude for spiritual grounding, connection, and commitment; (2) spiritual seeking—openness to exploration, questions, and new perspectives; (3) spiritual struggles—dynamics of spiritual conflict, distress, and pain in relation to God, self, and others; and (4) emotion regulatory strengths—capacities to process difficult emotions while tolerating ambiguity and relating flexibly. Two optional, supplemental modules focus on Virtues (22 items) by assessing humility, compassion, justice, forgiveness, and blessedness, and Sense of Community (13 items) by assessing cultural sensitivity and institutional support. The accompanying study report also linked below explains the original study's context, summarizes model constructs, and documents psychometric evidence for core measures. Designed for non-commercial educational and research use in seminary contexts, trained professional support is available to ATS schools exploring the SFA.
KEYWORDS: open access / free access; assessment instrument; Colloquy article; emotion regulation; psychometrics; Relational Spirituality Model (RSM); Seminary Formation Assessment (SFA); seminary students; sense of community; spiritual dwelling; spiritual formation; spiritual seeking; theological education; training resources; virtues
CITATIONS:
PRESENTATION: Sandage, Steven J., Peter J. Jankowski, and David C. Wang. 2025. "Relational Spirituality Model of Spiritual Formation: Research with Seminary Students." Presentation, 2025 ATS Student Data and Resources Consultation, Pittsburgh, PA, April 3. https://www.atsformationrepository.org/resources/core-measures-of-student-spiritual-formation-in-theological-education-based-on-the-relational-spirituality-model.
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: Sandage, Steven J., and Peter J. Jankowski. 2026. "Assessing Student Formation: A New Set of Core Assessment Tools." Colloquy (Association of Theological Schools), March. https://www.ats.edu/files/galleries/assessing-student-formation-core-tools.pdf.
STUDY REPORT: Jankowski, Peter J., Steven J. Sandage, and David C. Wang. 2026. Core Measures of Student Spiritual Formation in Theological Education Based on the Relational Spirituality Model. Report. March. https://www.atsformationrepository.org/resources/core-measures-of-student-spiritual-formation-in-theological-education-based-on-the-relational-spirituality-model.
