FAQ: TEDS at TWU Transition
Trinity Western University (TWU) and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) have entered into a formal agreement to take steps toward assuming ownership of TEDS. This will ensure the continued legacy of TEDS globally recognized evangelical training ground for leaders within the church. As this moves forward, TEDS will become TWU’s seminary, all the while remaining steadfast in its mission.
In Fall 2026, TEDS at TWU will welcome its first class on the campus in Langley, B.C. TEDS will remain at its current Bannockburn location during the 2025–2026 academic year, as we will be conducting due diligence from April to December 2025, with the transfer of ownership officially concluding at the end of that period, December 31, 2025.
TEDS Dean David W. Pao has been appointed, effective July 1, as TIU interim president (while remaining dean) to oversee the process.
As evangelical Christian institutions with a shared origin in the Evangelical Free Church of America, both TWU and TEDS share a common statement of faith and missional focus. This transition strengthens TEDS’ ability to provide biblically grounded, academically rigorous theological education to students across North America and globally.
Both institutions share a vision that is:
- Biblically grounded
- Broadly evangelical
- Local church-connected
- Academically rigorous
- Globally engaged
TEDS will gain institutional stability, expanded resources, secured faculty and program support, and a broader North American and global reach while preserving its theological identity.
TWU enhances its academic reputation, strengthens its theological programs, broadens its student base, and furthers its global mission.
No. TEDS will remain at its current location through the 2025–2026 academic year. Beginning Fall 2026, TEDS will operate from TWU’s campus in Langley, B.C.
Staying on the Bannockburn campus, which was designed to house a small university, would undermine our commitment to good stewardship and represent a loss of opportunity moving forward. The unnecessary financial burden of maintaining this campus can be directed toward our programs and our people so that we can have a stronger impact on the church in North America and around the world.
TEDS has an incredible opportunity to thrive as part of a large theologically and missionally aligned Christian university. Such a relationship allows TEDS to benefit from the savings made by sharing buildings, resources, and services as its programs grow. It opens the door to larger recruiting pools from across North America and around the world, and it brings a significant synergy in a shared missional focus that will expand opportunities for TEDS into the future.
TEDS will continue its relationship with the EFCA while expanding its connection to the Evangelical Free Church of Canada.
The University will remain operating both its undergraduate program in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. Trinity Law School will continue to be a part of Trinity International University following TEDS’ move to TWU.
Students will have access to expanded programs, faculty, and global networks, providing broader theological education opportunities.
No. Several core programs will carry over, but others will be restructured so that we can be more flexible in serving a wider group of students. We are working with TEDS’ accrediting agencies as we make decisions about programs, based as well as on mission alignment, student interest, and available resources to ensure a strong academic offering. We will keep the community updated on these developments just as soon as we are able.
No. Online programs and courses will continue on as usual.
While some programs will be restructured, incoming students will still be able to enroll in programs, including the MDiv, MA/TS, ThM, DMin, and PhD. Please contact graduate admissions at [email protected] with questions.
Applications will open in late 2025, with the first student intake in September 2026. For updates on new programs and admissions, please contact [email protected].
You can still request your transcripts through our current process via the National Student Clearinghouse. TEDS maintains a secure and accessible record of all students’ transcripts, ensuring they can be requested at any time. All records will be securely transferred to TWU at the appropriate time during the acquisition, and any changes to the request process will be communicated to students, so you may continue to access your academic history without disruption.
On-campus housing leases will shift to month-to-month in the summer of 2025 (which allows students to transition off campus at any time without breaking lease) and end after the 2026 academic year.
TWU is a Title IV-approved school. Therefore, students who are U.S. citizens will remain eligible for federal loans and Federal Work Study. We are still exploring the scholarship aspect of the partnership and will provide answers as soon as they are available.
Student services, including the support of our international students, will continue through the Student Life and International Student and Scholar offices. Please contact them at [email protected] or [email protected].
Due to the planned sale of our Bannockburn campus and in accordance with the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accreditation requirements, we will not be able to continue the counseling program beyond spring 2026. However, we are actively working to establish a teach-out partnership with another CACREP-accredited counseling program that offers a residential component, which is especially essential for our international students.
Know that we are currently in discussions with a shortlist of institutions and anticipate that finalizing an agreement will take several weeks. We kindly ask for your patience during this time, as arranging a formal transfer pathway will provide a more seamless transition than exploring transfer options independently.
We are committed to supporting you through this process and will provide detailed information as soon as it becomes available. Your academic journey and success remain our top priorities.
If you are unsure whether you can complete your degree by May 2026, please get in touch with Dr. Luis San Roman, Department Chair, at [email protected] as soon as possible. We want to clarify your situation and help you determine your next steps.
If you are on a student visa, please plan to register for fall classes at TEDS. This will maintain your visa status. Once we confirm the teach-out arrangements, we will work with you to transfer your visa to the new institution and then we will assist you in dropping your fall courses (after your visa successfully transfers to the new institution). If our teachout agreement takes longer than expected, you will be able to take classes at TEDS until a teachout agreement is finalized and your visa is transferred.
As interim president starting July 1, 2025, TEDS Dean David W. Pao is overseeing the transition process (while remaining dean of TEDS). Along with Associate Dean John Simons, they will continue as deans of TEDS at TWU, providing continuity and steady leadership through and after the transition.
TEDS will remain on its Bannockburn campus through the 2025–26 academic year, with full integration into TWU’s Langley campus in fall 2026.
Yes—with the exception of MA/MHC students not scheduled to finish their degree by May 2026 (see above). Students can complete their existing programs through in-person and online options.
Current students’ programs will be preserved. Future curriculum refinements will enhance academic offerings while maintaining TEDS’ theological distinctiveness.
Faculty contracts will be renewed for 2025–26. Employment offers to selected faculty will be offered along with transition support. Staff transitions will be managed with department-specific briefings.
For the 2025–26 academic year, daily operations will largely remain unchanged while integration planning proceeds. Updates will be provided through departmental meetings and regular communications.
Transition teams will oversee integration, with governance transfer guiding decisions. Regular updates through community gatherings and stakeholder meetings will ensure transparency and engagement throughout the process.
Yes. The integration will enhance financial sustainability through resource efficiencies and strategic growth, allowing more investment in theological education.
TEDS donors will be stewarded with care to honor their existing commitments, ensuring continued support for theological education.
The challenges TEDS has faced in recent years—echoed across seminaries in North America—have become increasingly difficult to overcome. While there are clear financial benefits to joining TWU, this move is equally shaped by shared mission, theological continuity, and a vision for strategic growth on both sides. For more on that story, see “TEDS at TWU: A Singular Vision.”
To support the future of theological education and church leadership development, please contact [email protected].