Educational Effectiveness for TEDS
The faculty of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) is committed to designing effective programs and the concomitant evaluation of those programs in accordance with the purpose of the School “to serve the church of the Living God by equipping servants for the work of the gospel of Christ worldwide” (catalog). As such, there are a variety of academic programs offered at the school with varied purposes, objectives, and student learning outcomes. Indicators of program effectiveness for these programs are numerous. Such indicators include both institutional and participant self-reported data that help to ensure congruence of vocational intention and theological education.
To aid in consistent and reliable reporting, some of the evaluative processes include reports to the Association of Theological Schools, our professional accrediting association. The institutional Annual Report to ATS (noted below as ATS), and the ATS Alumni/ae Questionnaire (administered in Spring 2017 to alumni/ae from Spring 2012 – Spring 2017, noted AQ) provide some of these data. The regular administration of these studies also enables longitudinal analysis of program effectiveness.
The following is a summary of those reports. Specific questions about the data, or its reporting and analysis may be directed to the Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Office of the Dean ([email protected] or 847.317.8086). These data are updated annually early in the calendar year after the filing of the annual ATS report.
Applicants and Enrollees (ATS 2023)
Basic Programs Oriented Toward Ministerial Leadership | |
MDiv | 73Applicants—67 Acceptances—30 Enrollees |
MA in _______ (Professional) | 26 Applicants—23 Acceptances—13 Enrollees |
NOTE: This includes MA in Mental Health Counseling, Chaplaincy and Ministry Care, Educational Ministries, Intercultural Studies, and Bioethics | |
Basic Programs Oriented Toward General Theological Studies | |
MA (Academic) | 17 Applicants—15 Acceptances—8 Enrollees |
MA (Both) | 82 Applicants—80 Acceptances—41 Enrollees |
Advanced Programs Oriented Toward Ministerial Leadership | |
DMin | 18 Applicants—17 Acceptances—8 Enrollees |
Advanced Programs Primarily Oriented Toward Theological Research and Teaching | |
ThM | 18 Applicants—15 Acceptances—7 Enrollees |
PhD | 29 Applicants—27 Acceptances—16 Enrollees |
Completion Data for Graduates (ATS 2023)
Part A. Master of Divinity Degree Program (Standard A. MDiv) | |
1. Number of students who entered this program 6 years ago this fall | 70 |
2. Number of students from that group who have since graduated | 47 |
3. Graduation rate for this program | 70.0% |
Part B. Professional MA Degree Programs (Standards B/C. MA in ___/MCM, etc.) | |
1. Total number of students who entered these programs 4 years ago this fall | 26 |
2. Total number of students from that group who have since graduated | 15 |
3. Graduation rate for these programs | 61.5% |
Part C. Academic MA Degree Programs (Standard D. MA, MTS, etc.) | |
1. Total number of students who entered these programs 4 years ago this fall | 4 |
2. Total number of students from that group who have since graduated | 3 |
3. Graduation rate for these programs | 75.0% |
Part D. MA Degree Programs which are both academic and professional (Standard D. MA, MTS, etc.) | |
1. Total number of students who entered these programs 4 years ago this fall | 39 |
2. Total number of students from that group who have since graduated | 19 |
3. Graduation rate for these programs | 48.7% |
Part E. Doctor of Ministry Degree Program (Standard E. DMin) | |
1. Number of students who entered this program 6 years ago this fall | 5 |
2. Number of students from that group who have graduated | 1 |
3. Graduation rate for this program | 40.0% |
Part F. Other Professional Doctorate Programs (Standards F/G/H. EdD, DMiss, etc.) | |
1. Total number of students who entered these programs 6 years ago this fall | 0 |
2. Total number of students from that group who have since graduated | 0 |
3. Graduation rate for these programs | 0.00% |
Part G. Advanced Masters Programs (Standard I. ThM, STM, etc.) | |
1. Total number of students who entered these programs 2 years ago this fall | 6 |
2. Total number of students from that group who have since graduated | 2 |
3. Graduation rate fro these programs | 50.00% |
Part H. Advanced Doctoral Programs (Standard J. PhD, ThD) | |
1. Total number of students who entered these programs 8 years ago this fall | 37 |
2. Total number of students from that group who have since graduated | 15 |
3. Graduation rate for these programs | 45.9% |
Position Expected After Graduation for MDiv students (GSQ 2023-2024)
These data provided by new graduates reveal expectations of initial ministry position by degree area.
MDiv Graduates | |
Pastor/Priest/Minister | 23.1% |
Associate Minister/Pastor | 23.1% |
Minister or director of Christian/religious education | 0.0% |
Youth Work or Ministry | 15.4% |
Musician or liturgist | 0.0% |
Spiritual Director | 0.0% |
New church development / church planting / evangelism | 0.0% |
Other position within a congregation/parish context | 0.0% |
Unsure (in congregation) | 0.0% |
Retreat or spiritual director (not in a congregation) | 0.0% |
Campus ministry or youth worker (not in a congregations) | 0.0% |
Hospital/hospice/healthcare chaplaincy | 0.0% |
Military Chaplaincy | 7.7% |
Prison Ministry | 0.0% |
Specialized Ministry: Other (not in a congregation) | 0.0% |
Missionary Service (foreign) | 0.0% |
Denominational administrator or staff | 0.0% |
Teaching in primary or secondary education | 0.0% |
Teaching or administration in a theological school | 0.0% |
Other Teaching/Admin in Higher Ed. | 0.0% |
Other Religious or parachurch agency/organization | 0.0% |
Social Work/Social Services | 0.0% |
Social Justice Ministry | 0.0% |
Community development or community organizing | 0.0% |
Pastoral Counselor (not in a congregation) | 0.0% |
Licensed counselor or phychologist | 0.0% |
Exec/Admin of Non-Profit | 0.0% |
Exec/Admin of For-Profit | 0.0% |
Further Graduate or Professional Studies | 0.0% |
Full-time homemaking or childcare | 0.0% |
Medicine/Engineering/Law | 0.0% |
Other | 7.70% |
Undecided | 23.1% |
TOTAL | 100.00% |
Position Expected After Graduation for All Other students (Non-MDiv students) (GSQ 2023-2024)
Pastor/Priest/Minister | 23.2% |
Associate Minister/Pastor | 3.6% |
Minister or director of Christian/religious education | 5.4% |
Youth Work or Ministry | 3.6% |
Musician or liturgist | 0.0% |
Spiritual Director | 1.8% |
New church development / church planting / evangelism | 0.0% |
Other position within a congregation/parish context | 0.0% |
Unsure (in congregation) | 1.8% |
Retreat or spiritual director (not in a congregation) | 0.0% |
Campus ministry or youth worker (not in a congregations) | 1.8% |
Hospital/hospice/healthcare chaplaincy | 1.8% |
Military Chaplaincy | 3.6% |
Prison Ministry | 0.0% |
Specialized Ministry: Other (not in a congregation) | 1.8% |
Missionary Service (foreign) | 5.4% |
Denominational administrator or staff | 1.8% |
Teaching in primary or secondary education | 3.6% |
Teaching or administration in a theological school | 23.2% |
Other Teaching/Admin in Higher Ed. | 1.8% |
Other Religious or parachurch agency/organization | 3.6% |
Social Work/Social Services | 0.0% |
Social Justice Ministry | 0.0% |
Community development or community organizing | 0.0% |
Pastoral Counselor (not in a congregation) | 0.0% |
Licensed counselor or phychologist | 5.4% |
Exec/Admin of Non-Profit | 1.8% |
Exec/Admin of For-Profit | 0.0% |
Further Graduate or Professional Studies | 0.0% |
Full-time homemaking or childcare | 0.0% |
Medicine/Engineering/Law | 0.0% |
Other | 5.40% |
Undecided | 0.0% |
TOTAL | 100.00% |
Job Prospects (All degree programs) | |
Offered a New Position | 42.9% |
Not Offered a Position | 10.7% |
Continue in the Same Position | 37.5% |
Seek Further Study | 3.6% |
Other | 5.4% |
TOTAL | 100% |
First Professional Position Upon Graduation (MDiv) – Alumni Questionnaire 2017
In a similar fashion, these data provided by alumni/ae reveal the actual first professional posting.
Ministry in same congregation as before graduation | 47.10% |
Ministry in another congregation | 29.40% |
Campus ministry or youth worker (not in parish/congregation) | 5.90% |
Missionary service (foreign/home) | 5.90% |
Other teaching or administration in higher education | 5.90% |
Other | 5.90% |
TOTAL | 100% |
First Professional Position Upon Graduation (MA Professional)
Ministry in another congregation | 50% |
Social work / social services | 50% |
TOTAL | 100% |
First Professional Position Upon Graduation (MA Academic)
Ministry in same congregation as before graduation | 20% |
Ministry in another congregation | 10% |
Teaching in primary or secondary education | 30% |
Social work / social services | 20% |
Clerical/office/sales | 10% |
Other | 10% |
TOTAL | 100% |
First Professional Position Upon Graduation (All Others)
Ministry in same congregation as before graduation | 16.70% |
Ministry in another congregation | 16.70% |
Missionary service (foreign / home) | 16.70% |
Teaching in primary or secondary education | 16.70% |
Teaching or administration in a seminary | 33.30% |
TOTAL | 100% |
First Professional Position Upon Graduation (All Degree Programs)
Ministry in same congregation as before graduation | 29.70% |
Ministry in another congregation | 24.30% |
Campus ministry or youth worker (not in parish/congregation) | 2.70% |
Missionary service (foreign / home) | 5.40% |
Teaching in primary or secondary education | 10.80% |
Teaching or administration in a seminary | 5.40% |
Other teaching or administration in higher education | 2.70% |
Social work/ social services | 10.80% |
Clerical/office/sales | 2.70% |
Other | 5.40% |
TOTAL | 100% |
Alumni/ae Length of Time to Obtain First Paid Professional Position (AQ 2017)
An important criterion to understand the length of time necessary to find the first appointment. TEDS offers placement services for all graduates, including regular visits by a variety of church and denominational officials.
MDiv | |
Working at graduation | 52.90% |
Less than six months | 35.30% |
One to two years | 11.80% |
TOTAL | 100% |
MA Professional | |
Working at graduation | 75% |
Less than six months | 25% |
Did not pursue paid professional position | 10% |
Have not attained paid professional position | 10% |
TOTAL | 100% |
MA Academic | |
Working at graduation | 20% |
Less than six months | 40% |
One to two years | 20% |
Did not pursue paid professional position | 10% |
Have not attained paid professional position | 10% |
TOTAL | 100% |
All Others | |
Working at graduation | 66.70% |
Less than six months | 33.30% |
TOTAL | 100% |
Total—Across All Degree Programs | |
Working at graduation | 48.60% |
Less than six months | 35.10% |
One to two years | 10.80% |
Did not pursue paid professional position | 2.70% |
Have not attained paid professional position | 2.70% |
TOTAL | 100% |
Following is a partial list of recent Trinity Evangelical Divinity School graduates service placements:
A Safe Place | Zion, IL |
Africa International University | Nairobi, Kenya |
Alexian Brothers | Arlington Heights, IL |
Arbor Circle | Grand Rapids, MI |
Assumption Bible Institute | Assumption, Paraguay |
Bangkok Bible Seminary | Bangkok, Thailand |
Belkin House – The Salvation Army | Vancouver, Canada |
Blue Line Church | Chicago, IL |
Cherry Hill Counseling Center | Lake Zurich, IL |
Christ Community EFCA Church | Kansas City, MO |
Christian High School teachers in various locales | Pennsylvania |
Church planting in various denominations both in the USA and internationally | |
Church staff and pastoring in various denominations both in the USA and internationally | |
Cook School of Intercultural Studies, Biola University | La Miranda, CA |
Cornerstone Counseling Center of Chicago | Chicago, IL |
Counselors in private practice | |
Covenant College | Georgia |
Covenant Theological Seminary | St. Louis, MO |
Detroit Baptist Seminary | Detroit, MI |
DuPage County Health Department | Lombard, IL |
Eden’s Baptist Church | Cambridge, England |
Evangel Seminary | Hong Kong |
Family Development Center | Lake Bluff, IL |
Glenview Youth Services | Glenview, IL |
Grosvenor Road Baptist Church | Dublin, Ireland |
Jefferson Center for Mental Health | Lakewood, CO |
Kuyper College | Grand Rapids, MI |
Lake County Mental Health | Lake County, IL |
Liberty University | Lynchburg, VA |
Lilly Pharmaceuticals | Taiwan and Indiana |
Lincoln Christian Univeristy | Lincoln, IL |
Logos Evangelical Seminary | Pasadena, CA |
Logos Seminary | Los Angeles, CA |
Moody Bible Institute | Chicago, IL |
Moody Theological Seminary | Chicago, IL |
New Heights Christian Fellowship Wesleyan Church | Farmington, MN |
Ohio Guidestone | Cleveland, OH |
Presbyterian Homes Retirement Community | Illinois |
Rawhide Boys Ranch | New London, WI |
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Boyce College | Louisville, KY |
Spring Tree Counseling | Evanston, IL |
Taylor University | Upland, IN |
Thresholds | Chicago, IL |
Torrey Honors Institute, Biola University | La Miranda, CA |
Trinity International University | Deerfield, IL |
University of St. Thomas | Houston, TX |
US Army | |
Vancouver Chinese Baptist Church | Vancouver |
Wheaton College | Wheaton, IL |
Wycliffe/Tyndale Summer Training Program | Toronto, ON |
Alumni/ae Current Employment Setting
An important criterion to understand the length of time necessary to find the first appointment. TEDS offers placement services for all graduates, including regular visits by a variety of church and denominational officials.
Current Position of Respondents Serving in a Congregation or Parish (AQ 2017) | |
Sole pastor, priest, minister | 22.20% |
Interim minister | 5.60% |
Other | 11.10% |
Head of staff (priest or minister supervising other clergy staff) | 5.60% |
Co-pastor | 5.60% |
Associate or assistant pastor, priest, or minister | 33.30% |
Minister or director of Christian/religious education | 5.60% |
Youth work or ministry | 5.60% |
Spiritual director | 5.60% |
TOTAL | 100% |
Current Employment Setting of Respondents Not Serving in a Congregation or Parish (AQ 2017) | |
Campus ministry or youth worker (not in congregation) | 4.20% |
Hospital/hospice/healthcare chaplaincy | 4.20% |
Other specialized ministry (not in a congregation) | 8.30% |
Missionary service (foreign/home) | 8.30% |
Teaching in primary or secondary education | 12.50% |
Teaching or administration in a seminary | 4.20% |
Other teaching or administration in higher education | 8.30% |
Social work/social services | 8.30% |
Clerical/office/sales | 4.20% |
Self-employed | 4.20% |
Currently not employed | 33.30% |
TOTAL | 100% |
MDiv Alumni/ae, Congregations, and the Church
2017
MDiv alumni in particular are many times practitioners in the congregational context. These data reveal their perceptions of preparation and educational effectiveness.
Very well | 4 |
Very well in some areas, lacking in others | 3 |
Lacking in key areas | 2 |
Very inadequately | 1 |
How well theological education prepared MDiv alumni/ae for current work (AQ T-24) | ||
Average | S.D. | |
Currently working in a congregation | 3.3 | 0.6 |
Currently not working in a congregation | 3.2 | 0.7 |
Change in Theological Position Since Graduating | |
Current Theological Position | |
Very Conservative | 12.50% |
Conservative | 60.40% |
Moderate | 22.90% |
Liberal | 2.10% |
Very Liberal | 2.10% |
TOTAL | 100% |
Change in Theological Position Since Graduating | |
More Conservative | 10.40% |
Less Conservative | 12.50% |
More Liberal | 6.30% |
Less Liberal | 2.10% |
About the same | 68.80% |
TOTAL | 100% |
Frequency of Respondents’ Contact with Faculty, Administrators, Staff and Classmates | ||
Frequency of Contact | With Faculty | With Classmates |
Frequently | 8.30% | 14.60% |
Occasionally | 33.30% | 52.10% |
Seldom | 45.80% | 20.80% |
Never | 12.50% | 12.50% |
TOTAL | 100% | 100% |
Very effective | 4 |
Effective | 3 |
Ineffective | 2 |
Very ineffective | 1 |
MDiv alumni/ae working in a congregation perception of “effectiveness of education in four areas of study” 2012 (AQ T-21) | ||
Average | S.D. | |
Understanding of religious heritage | 3.6 | 0.7 |
Understanding of the cultural context of religious work | 3 | 0.8 |
Development in personal and spiritual formation | 2.9 | 1 |
Capacity for ministerial and public leadership | 3.1 | 0.8 |
As the standard professional program for ministerial leadership, and thus ordination and licensing, these data reveal the MDiv alumni/ae pursuing such. It should be noted many alumni are not ordained until serving several years in the ministry, and this sample includes those who completed their MDiv in the past six years.
MDiv alumni/ae who are ordained or licensed 2012 (AQ T-8) | |
Ordained or equivalent status | 39.8% |
Licensed, but not ordained | 18.3% |
Neither | 41.9% |
TOTAL | 100% |
Alumni/ae: Preparation for Professional Work
Spring 2012
As a seminary preparing persons for professional work in a variety of settings, the following notes areas of particular preparation.
Area in which TEDS “Best prepared you” (AQ -#4) | |
Building relationships with people | 5.1% |
Counseling strategies and techniques | 7.9% |
Financial management | 0.6% |
General leadership | 6.8% |
Missions/evangelism understanding | 14.7% |
Personal spiritual formation | 10.2% |
Preaching | 24.3% |
Other | 30.4% |
TOTAL | 100% |
Area in which TEDS “could have better prepared you” (AQ -#3) | |
Building relationships with people | 9.6% |
Counseling strategies and techniques | 7.9% |
Financial management | 6.8% |
General leadership | 23.7% |
Missions/evangelism understanding | 2.3% |
Personal spiritual formation | 10.2% |
Preaching | 4.5% |
Working with church boards | 14.1 |
Other | 20.9% |
TOTAL | 100% |
Three Most Lasting Influences of Education Other Than Course Work 2017
Program effectiveness is measured not only in the classroom but beyond as well. These data note the broader impact of program effectiveness.
Interactions with faculty | 11.20% |
Clinical training | 2.80% |
Interactions with faculty | 17.50% |
Experiences in ministry | 9.80% |
Multiethnic/cultural contacts | 7.70% |
Introductions to different perspectives | 10.50% |
Spiritual direction/formation on other faith-building events/activities | 7.00% |
Interactions with students | 13.30% |
Chapel/worship | 0.70% |
Personal life experiences | 9.10% |
Interreligious/ecumenical interaction | 2.80% |
Cross-cultural engagement | 4.20% |
Community life of school | 2.80% |
Other | 0.70% |
TOTAL | 100% |
Alumni/ae: Respondents Earning or Having Earned an Additional Degree (AQ T-4)
Spring 2012
Many TEDS program participants expect to pursue an additional degree. These indicate those pursuing further education.
Those currently in a congregation | |
No degree earned | 81.9% |
Currently earning a degree | 9.6% |
Degree earned | 8.4% |
TOTAL | 99.9% |
MDiv Alumni/ae: Percentage of Respondents Who Would Choose to Attend the Same Seminary Again 2017 (AQ T-28)
If a TEDS education was not effective, and the program was deficient, there would be little interest in “attending the same seminary again.” These data reveal a definite interest in attending TEDS again.
Currently in Congregation | |
Definitely yes | 66.70% |
Probably yes | 29.20% |
Uncertain | 4.20% |
TOTAL | 100% |
Not in Congregation | |
Definitely yes | 54.20% |
Probably yes | 41.70% |
Definitely not | 4.20% |
TOTAL | 100% |