Research on Human Formation Published as Part of Organizational and Educational Models Initiative
DESCRIPTION: Writing for Colloquy Online, ATS Strategic Director of Context and Continuity and Director of Accreditation, Stephen R. Graham, introduces a set of reports produced by a study group facilitated by the ATS Organizational and Educational Models in Theological Education (OEM) project. Meeting between 2021 and 2023, the group included faculty and administrators from Protestant schools Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Duke University Divinity School, Eastern Mennonite Seminary of Eastern Mennonite University, George W. Truett Theological Seminary of Baylor University, Kairos University, and Oklahoma Christian University Graduate School of Theology. In her presentation at the 2025 ATS Student Data and Resources Consultation, group member Angela Reed (Truett Seminary) recounts how the group explored key definitions, assessment approaches, psychological testing, pedagogical practices, intercultural competency, and faculty and staff preparation related to the multidimensionality of formation (including spiritual, intellectual, vocational, physical, social, environmental, emotional). Links to three key resources appear further below, with individual essays hyperlinked in the study report (digital flipbook resource).
KEYWORDS: open access / free access; academic rigor; ATS member schools; ATS Standards of Accreditation (2020); ATS Student Data and Resources Consultation (2025); Colloquy article; curricular and co-curricular formation; definitions of formation; dimensions of formation; faculty and staff development; global awareness and engagement; human formation / well-being / wholeness; intercultural competency; lifelong learning; Organizational and Educational Models initiative; pedagogical and institutional practices; Protestant schools; psychological assessment; slide deck; student learning and formation; study report; theological education
CITATIONS:
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: Graham, Stephen R. 2025. "Research on Human Formation Published as Part of Organizational and Educational Models Initiative." Colloquy (Pittsburgh, PA), February 28. https://www.ats.edu/files/galleries/research-on-human-formation-published-as-part-of-oem.pdf.
PRESENTATION: Reed, Angela. 2025. "Human Formation in ATS Schools: Organizational and Educational Models in Theological Education " In The Multifaceted Task of Assessing Student Formation. ATS Student Data and Resources Consultation, Pittsburgh, PA, April 3. https://www.atsformationrepository.org/resources/research-on-human-formation-published-as-part-of-oem-initiative.
STUDY REPORT: Association of Theological Schools. 2025. Human Formation. Digital flipbook. https://www.flipsnack.com/6C68C8DD75E/human-formation/full-view.html.
