Grebel to benefit from agreement with university

Waterloo, Ont.

An historic agreement on graduate theological studies between Conrad Grebel University College, St. Jerome's University and the University of Waterloo was signed late last year.

Since 1987, Conrad Grebel University College has been granting a masters degree in theological studies, and part of the reason for adding "university" to Grebel's name was to reflect this graduate program. The agreement with Waterloo will mean that degrees will now be conferred conjointly by Grebel and the public university. It will also offer Grebel graduate students additional support from Waterloo's graduate student program for things like health insurance and allow students to qualify for Ontario Graduate Scholarships.

Under the agreement, Conrad Grebel retains control over admissions, curriculum and faculty hiring. This development will also assist in the process of attaining accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) that monitors standards of excellence in theological education.

This new relationship with Waterloo will involve program approval and regular program review by the Ontario Council of Graduate Studies. This will strengthen the relationship with Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary and the Toronto School of Theology, making it easier for students to transfer credit between these schools. This agreement will also serve to enhance what is a unique program in church leadership development in Canada and the United States.

"Our commitment to our students and to serving the church and its leadership needs will be enhanced through this new partnership with the university," suggests Tom Yoder Neufeld, who teaches biblical studies in the Grebel program.

A major component of Waterloo's "Sixth Decade Plan," announced last September, is the expansion of its graduate program from 2,600 to 8,000 students. This focus on graduate education reflects the increased funding available from the provincial government in response to recent undergraduate growth. The funding provided through this new agreement with Waterloo is based on enrolment and could net $150,000 in annual revenue for Grebel's master of theological studies program.

This program has grown significantly in recent years and now has more than 50 students enrolled. Many of them are preparing for leadership in the church, some are pastors who are continuing their education, and others are preparing for further graduate studies. Of the 53 graduates from this program to date, about one-quarter have gone on to complete doctoral studies in Bible and theology, nearly half are in the pastorate, and the rest are in a variety of professions.

-Conrad Grebel release by Jennifer Konkle