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LaChauna Sumpter
Public Relations
919-546-8269
lsumpter@shawu.edu

 
For Immediate Release

 

Shaw University Divinity School Re-Accredited for 10 Years
 For the first time in its history, SUDS awarded ATS' longest and highest membership

Raleigh, NC (June 9, 2005) -- From its humble beginnings as a department within the School of Liberal Arts, that escaped dissolvent status experienced by the former medical, pharmacy, and law schools, to it’s a emergence as a 21st century leader in theological education; The Shaw University Divinity School (SUDS) was awarded, for the first time in its nearly 100-year, intricate history, Full Accredited Membership status for 10 years, by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS).

According to ATS online, “Accredited Members are institutions that, after review on the basis of the Association’s standards, are voted by the ATS Commission on Accrediting into Accredited Membership.”

“We were accredited for 10 years, which is a significant accomplishment in that accreditation is normally awarded in five or seven year increments.

The fact that Shaw University Divinity School was accredited for 10 years speaks to the confidence ATS has in our program and curriculum. It punctuates their belief that we are so well-grounded, that it is not necessary for them to return for a five-year review process,” says Shaw University Divinity School dean, Dr. J.T. Roberson

The two-year process began in February 2003, in a requested meeting with ATS and the Shaw University Divinity School staff, to initiate the accreditation process.

The internal Self-Study Committee was appointed and for one year collected information for the self-study document. In this document SUDS reviewed itself identifying areas of strength, weaknesses and needed areas of improvement.

Upon ATS’ visit in 2004, their primary instrument of measuring the program was the self-study document.

“…[We] are also proud of ATS’ findings that what the Self-Study Committee reported and what they observed was very consistent. It speaks to our ability to be objective though we work daily with the program,” said Roberson.

Dr. Linda Bryan, SUDS assistant dean adds, “It was on February 7-11, 2004 that the Accreditation Evaluation Committee met with faculty, staff, and students…to review and report on Shaw’s self-study. They not only granted SUDS its highest membership status, ATS also approved the university to offer courses in the Winston-Salem, NC site for up to two-thirds of the courses required for the Master of Divinity degree and up to one half of the courses required for the Master of Religious Education degree.”

“Implicitly, this places Shaw’s divinity school program among the ranks of ivy-league local and national seminaries, who are in essence offering the same quality of education,” said Roberson.

The Shaw University Divinity School offers two graduate programs of study. The Master of Divinity (MDiv), with nine areas of concentration in: Pastoral Counseling, Old Testament, New Testament, Theological Studies, Women’s Studies, Church History, Christian Education, Black Church Studies, and Homiletics. It also offers the Master’s of Religious Education (MRE).

ATS is recognized by the United States Secretary of Education for the accreditation and pre-accreditation of freestanding theological schools, as well as schools affiliated with larger institutions, that offer graduate professional education for ministry and graduate study of theology.

It began in 1918 as a conference for theological schools. It became an Association in 1936 and adopted standards for judging quality. In 1938 ATS established a list of accredited schools. In 1956 it incorporated and secured a full-time staff. The Association has been representative in membership of both the United States and Canada since its inception.

Shaw University Divinity School Evolution & Timeline

End of the 19th Century
The School of Liberal Arts housed the Theological Department

1900
First bachelor of theology degree awarded to four students

1918
The schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Law were closed. The school of Liberal Arts including the Theological Department remained.

1919
A Missionary Training School was established to prepare home and foreign missionaries, social service workers, pastors, assistants, and Sunday leaders.

1933
The Theological Department concluded providing ministerial training through a bachelor of theology degree program.

The Board of Trustees of Shaw University established a School of Religion as a graduate school for theological education. Students enrolled in the School of Religion could earn the Bachelor of Arts, and the bachelor of divinity degrees simultaneously upon successfully completing the requirements of a six-year program.

1961
The School of Religion became Shaw Divinity School.

The BA-BD degree program was discontinued and replaced with a three-year graduate program leading to the bachelor of divinity (BD) degree.

1969
The Shaw Divinity School was chartered as a non-stock, non-profit corporation by the Office of the Secretary of State of North Carolina.

The BD degree was discontinued and a Master of Divinity was offered.

The Divinity School again offered a bachelor of theology program.

The three-year, MDiv. program offered a graduate/professional degree aimed at training persons for ministry primarily targeting the African American community.

The bachelor of theology program eventually discontinued.

1988
The Shaw Divinity School moved from the campus of Shaw University to 509 Hilltop Drive in Raleigh, making its new location on three and a half acres of land.

The Hilltop campus served as the central locale for administrative offices, housed the library and provided classroom space.

Shaw University and Shaw Divinity School alumnus, G. Franklin Wiggins of Peekskill, New York, purchased the Hilltop campus and leased Shaw Divinity School with first option to buy.

The Hilltop campus was named “The Shaw-Wiggins Campus.”

1998
Shaw Divinity school reconsolidated with Shaw University, thus changed its name to Shaw University Divinity School.

Reconsolidation afforded the privilege of full accreditation by ATS, and the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (SACS).

1999
Shaw University Divinity School relocated to the Shaw University campus. It was housed in historic Estey Hall.

2000
Shaw University Divinity School relocated to the restored historic Leonard Hall.

2005
Shaw University Divinity School is ATS re-accredited until 2014.

Shaw University, founded in 1865, is the oldest historically Black institution in the South. Since 2003, the University has been under the leadership of Dr. Clarence G. Newsome. President Newsome’s leadership pursues the theme: “Strides to Excellence: Only the Best!”