Logsdon Seminary receives full ATS accreditation

Posted: 3/03/06

Logsdon Seminary receives full ATS accreditation

By David Coffield

Hardin-Simmons University

ABILENE—Logsdon Seminary has been accredited by the primary accrediting agency for theological schools in North America.

The seminary, part of Hardin-Simmons University’s Logsdon School of Theology, received full accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools.

“ATS is the premier accrediting agency for graduate professional theological education. This accreditation confirms that Logsdon’s programs and degrees conform to the high standards mandated by the association,” said Tommy Brisco, the seminary’s dean.

Degrees offered at the seminary’s extension campuses at Wayland Baptist University in Lubbock and South Texas School of Christian Studies in Corpus Christi share in that accreditation, as do its distance-learning programs, he noted.

A school must meet curricular, management and academic-freedom requirements to achieve accreditation, and ATS officials conduct extensive on-campus investigations before granting initial accreditation. They also periodically review accredited institutions. ATS includes 252 graduate institutions in the United States and Canada.

“ATS accreditation is the recognized standard in the field of theological education in North America. For example, endorsement for chaplaincy often requires a master of divinity (degree) from a seminary with ATS accreditation, and many denominations require theological education at a school with ATS accreditation in order to receive ordination,” Associate Dean Robert Ellis said.

Hardin-Simmons University, founded in 1891, is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The Logsdon School of Theology came into existence in 1983, and the seminary was established in 2004.

The other BGCT-related seminary, Baylor University’s Truett Seminary, also is accredited by ATS.

Royce Rose, director of the theological education for the BGCT, said accreditation further strengthens Texas Baptists’ educational opportunities.

“Though all of our liberal arts universities have regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, it is critical for a theological school to gain accreditation for graduate programs from the Association of Theological Schools,” Rose said.

“ATS is the most recognized accrediting association of theological schools. This accreditation gives students the assurance that the curriculum, faculty and services of the school have measured up to the critical standards of their peers in theological education.

“ATS is considered the benchmark for accrediting schools offering professional theological education in the theological community, and it provides accreditation to a specific North American standard, enhancing the seminary’s regional accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.”