Saint Vincent Seminary Self-Study Report Prepared for the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools February 2018 1 1 Table of Contents Abbreviations ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. i Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1 The Founder’s Mission …………………………………………………………. 1 The Legacy of Boniface Wimmer’s Mission …………………………………… 1 Accreditation History …………………………………………………………… 3 Self-Study Structure and Participants ………………………………………....... 3 ATS GENERAL INSTITUTIONAL STANDARDS Standard 1: Purpose, Planning, Evaluation …………………………………………………………………. 5 1.1 Purpose …………………………………………………………………….... 5 Recommendation …………………………………………………………... 7 1.2 Planning and Evaluation ………………………………................................. 7 Recommendations …………………………………………………………... 12 Standard 2: Institutional Integrity …………………………………………………………………………… 12 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………….. 12 2.1 Relations with the ATS Commission on Accrediting ……………………….. 12 2.2 Compliance with State and Federal Laws and Regulations………………….. 13 2.3 Accuracy in Public Communications………………………………………… 13 Recommendation…………………………………………………………….. 14 2.4 Ethical Treatment of All Persons…………………………………………….. 14 Recommendation…………………………………………………………….. 15 2.5 Diversity of Race, Ethnicity, and Culture…………………………………… 15 Recommendation…………………………………………………………….. 16 2.6 Participation and Leadership of Women…………………………………….. 17 2.7 Financial Assistance…………………………………………………………. 17 2.8 Goal and Policy Sharing with Saint Vincent College……………………...... 18 2.9 Credit Transfer Policy……………………………………………………….. 18 2.10 Policy on the Ethical Use of Technology…………………………………..... 19 Recommendation………………………………………………………….... 19 Standard 3: The Theological Curriculum: Learning, Teaching and Research……………………………… 19 Introduction……………………………………………………………………….. 19 3.1 Goals of the Theological Curriculum……………………………………….. 19 Recommendation……………………………………………………………. 21 3.2 Learning, Teaching, and Research………………………………………….. 21 3.3 Characteristics of Theological Scholarship…………………………………. 28 Recommendation…………………………………………………………..... 33 Standard 4: Library and Information Resources………………………………………………………......... 33 4.1 Library Collections………………………………………………………….. 33 Recommendation……………………………………………………………. 35 4.2 Contribution to Learning, Teaching, and Research…………………………. 35 Recommendation…………………………………………………………... 36 4.3 Partnership in Curriculum Development……………………………………. 37 4.4 Administration and Leadership……………………………………………… 37 4.5 Resources……………………………………………………………………. 37 Recommendations…………………………………………………………... 38 Standard 5: Faculty…………………………………………………………………………………………. 39 Introduction………………………………………………………………………. 39 5.1 Faculty Qualifications, Responsibilities, Development, and Employment…. 40 Recommendations……………………………………………………………. 43 5.2 Faculty Role in Teaching……………………………………………………. 43 5.3 Faculty Role in Student Learning…………………………………………… 44 5.4 Faculty Role in Theological Research……………………………………..... 45 1 Recommendations………………………………………………………….... 47 Standard 6: Student Recruitment, Admissions, Services, and Placement…………………………………... 47 Introduction……………………………………………………………………….. 47 6.1 Recruitment………………………………………………………………….. 47 Recommendation……………………………………………………………. 49 6.2 Admissions…………………………………………………………………... 49 6.3 Student Services……………………………………………………………... 53 Recommendation……………………………………………………………. 54 6.4 Student Borrowing…………………………………………………………... 55 6.5 Placement……………………………………………………………………. 55 Recommendation……………………………………………………………. 55 Standard 7: Authority and Governance…………………………………………………………………....... 56 7.1 Authority…………………………………………………………………….. 56 7.2 Governance………………………………………………………………….. 57 Recommendation……………………………………………………………. 59 7.3 Roles and the Governance Process………………………………………….. 59 7.3.1 The Governing Boards………………………………………………. 59 Recommendations…………………………………………………… 63 7.3.2 Administration………………………………………………………. 63 7.3.3 Faculty……………………………………………………………….. 64 Recommendation…………………………………………………….. 65 7.3.4 Student Participation in Governance………………………………… 66 Standard 8: Institutional Resources………………………………………………………………………… 66 8.1 Personnel……………………………………………………………………. 66 8.2 Financial Resources………………………………………………………… 67 Recommendation .…………………………………………………………... 69 8.3 Physical Resources………………………………………………………….. 69 Recommendation……………………………………………………………. 70 8.4 Information Technology Resources……………………………………….... 70 8.5 Institutional Environment…………………………………………………… 71 8.6 Cooperative Use of Resources……………………………………………… 71 8.7 Clusters ……………………………………………………………………... 72 8.8 Instructional Technology Resources………………………………………... 72 Recommendations……………………………………………………………. 72 EDUCATIONAL STANDARD E. Standard 1: Degree Programs and Nomenclature…………………………………………………........ 74 ES 1.1 Post-Baccalaureate Degree Programs…………………………………... 74 Recommendation………………………………………………………….. 74 ES 1.2 Basic Programs Oriented toward Ministerial Leadership………………. 75 ES 1.3 Basic Programs Oriented toward General Theological Studies……....... 75 ES 1.4 and 1.5 Advanced Programs.……………………………………………. 76 ES 1.6 Degree Program Standards…………………………………………….. 76 Recommendation………………………………………………………….. 76 E. Standard 2: Campus-Based Education………………………………………………………………….. 76 ES 2.1 Residency………………………………………………………………. 77 E. Standard 3: Extension Education………………………………………………………………………. 77 E. Standard 4: Distance Education………………………………………………………………………... 77 E. Standard 5: Faculty-Directed Instruction……………………………………………………………..... 77 E. Standard 6: Assessment of Student Learning…………………………………………………………... 77 ES 6.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………….. 77 ES 6.2 Overall Assessment Strategy…………………………………………… 78 ES 6.3 Data…………………………………………………………………….. 78 ES 6.4 Faculty, Students, Trustees…………………………………………….. 79 Recommendation………………………………………………………. 80 E. Standard 7: Academic Guidelines……………………………………………………………………… 80 ES 7.1 Admission……………………………………………………………… 80 Recommendation……………………………………………………... 80 ES 7.2 Transfer of Credit……………………………………………………… 80 ES 7.3 Shared Credit in Degree Programs……………………………………. 81 ES 7.4 Advanced Standing……………………………………………………. 81 E. Standard 8: Non-Degree Instructional Programs………………………………………………………. 81 DEGREE PROGRAM STANDARDS Standard A: Master of Divinity (MDiv)…………………………………………………………………... 82 A.1 Purpose, Goals, Learning Outcomes, and Educational Assessment…….... 82 A.2 Program Content………………………………………………………….. 85 A.3 Educational Resources and Learning Strategies………………………….. 87 Recommendations……………………………………………………… 89 A.4 Admissions………………………………………………………………… 89 Standard B: Master of Arts in Ecclesial Ministry (MAEM)………………………………………………. 90 B.1 Purpose, Goals, Learning Outcomes, and Educational Assessment…......... 90 B.2 Program Content………………………………………………………….. 93 Recommendations……………………………………………………... 94 B.3 Educational Resources and Learning Strategies…………………………... 94 Recommendations……………………………………………………... 95 B.4 Admissions………………………………………………………………… 96 Standard D: Master of Arts (MA)…………………………………………………………………………. 96 D.1 Purpose, Goals, Learning Outcomes, and Educational Assessment……… 96 Recommendations…………………………………………………………. 99 D.2 Program Content………………………………………………………….. 99 D.3 Educational Resources and Learning Strategies………………………….. 100 D.4 Admissions………………………………………………………………… 101 CONCLUSION General Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 103 Summary Findings …………………………………………………………………………………………. 103 Abbreviations Organizations and Boards ATS Association of Theological Schools BR Seminary’s Board of Regents BD College Board of Directors BCPF Bishops’ Committee on Priestly Formation of the BR CCE Vatican’s Congregation for Catholic Education MSCHE Middle States Commission on Higher Education SFLFG Seminary Faculty Library Focus Group USCCB United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Publications and Documentation Bulletin Saint Vincent Seminary Bulletin (2016) CADP Course and Degree Program Evaluation CTA Comprehensive Timed Assessment DCLH Diocesan Community Life Handbook ES ATS Educational Standard FAH Faculty and Administrators’ Handbook FPH Formation Program Handbook GIS ATS General Institutional Standards Mission Statement Saint Vincent Seminary Mission Statement PPF Program of Priestly Formation, 5th edition RFM Readiness for Ministry Exam Degree Programs MA Master of Arts MACPS Master of Arts (Catholic Philosophical Studies) MAEM Master of Arts in Ecclesial Ministry MDiv Master of Divinity STB Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology i Introduction The Founder’s Mission Saint Vincent Seminary traces its canonical foundation to the papal bull Inter ceteras of 1855, but its actual origins go back to the vision of a single Benedictine monk from Bavaria, Boniface Wimmer (1809-1887). As a monk moved by the Benedictine tradition of missionary activity, Wimmer was concerned for the pastoral care of German Catholics in America, who lacked priests to minister to them in their native language. Fr. Boniface sought and received permission to go to America to serve his fellow German Catholics whose spiritual plight had so moved him. In 1846, Wimmer and a handful of young monks arrived in western Pennsylvania in response to an invitation the bishop of Pittsburgh had extended to him to work as missionaries in that diocese. Fr. Boniface and his confreres would eventually settle at the parish of Saint Vincent de Paul, near what is now the city of Latrobe. On that site, he established a monastic community, the center of his vision as a missionary. To prepare monks for ordination and missionary work, Wimmer planned for a seminary and a college; the