SEMINARY RECEIVES RENEWAL OF ACCREDITATION Tikhonaire Staff
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ive years ago St. Tikhon’s Seminary achieved accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), a membership organization of more than 250 graduate schools in the United States and Canada. This important distinction was a significant milestone in the history of the Seminary, granting it greater status and an enhanced collegial relationship with theological schools nationally. In 2010, St. Tikhon’s was eligible for renewal of accreditation, which entailed a process of Self-Study as well as a visit from an ATS Site Evaluation Team. The process of Self-Study, which began in earnest over a year in advance of the ATS visit, and involved countless hours of work on the part of the administration, faculty, and student volunteers, provided a unique opportunity to examine and assess the goals, procedures, and outcomes of the years since the prior evaluation. More simply, it was a chance to “look in the mirror,” to see who we were, who we are, and who we wish to become. The team assembled to do this important work of examination and assessment was led by Academic Dean, V. Rev. Alexander
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Golubov, Chair of the Self-Study, and Seminary Dean, V. Rev. Michael G. Dahulich (now Bishop MICHAEL), Editor of the Self-Study. The Steering Committee consisted of Prof. Sergei D. Arhipov, Librarian and Registrar, and Michael G. Herzak, member of the Board of Trustees in addition to the two Deans. In order to address the many different and dynamic concerns and perspectives within the St. Tikhon’s Seminary community, Review Subcommittees were established. The Review Subcommittees were charged with gathering information, interpreting data, and providing recommendations within their assigned areas. The four major areas of study were Institutional Process, Theological Discourse, Formation and Curriculum, and Students and Alumni. Members of the Self-Study team who contributed to the Review Committees were: Prof. Sergei Arhipov, V. Rev. Theodore Boback, Dr. Harry Boosalis, Rev. Martin Browne, Rev. David Cowan, Tamara Cowan, V. Rev. Michael Dahulich, V. Rev. Joseph Gallick, V. Rev. Alexander Golubov, Patrick Henre, Michael Herzak, V. Rev. David Hester, Sarah Jubinski, V. Rev. John Kowalczyk, Rev. Nilus Lerro, Deacon George Mathew, Rev. David Mezynski, Derek Aleksei Schmidt, V. Rev. David Shewczyk, Deacon Alexander Vallens, Dr. Christopher Veniamin, Rev. Joel
Weir, and Rev. Kyrill Williams. On November 16-19, 2009, St. Tikhon’s hosted a collegial visit from ATS Site Evaluation Team, consisting of Msgr. Stephen Bosso (St. Vincent DePaul Seminary), chair; Seymour House (Mt. Angel Seminary); Timothy D. Lincoln (Austin Presbyterian Seminary); and Tisa Lewis, ATS staff. Upon completion of their on-site evaluation, the team shared its perspectives on both the strengths and weaknesses of the Seminary, gleaned from the SelfStudy report and their cordial and frank discussions with the various Seminary constituencies. The team also shared their findings and recommendations to the ATS Board of Commissioners with the alumni, staff, faculty, administration and trustees who were present. On Friday, March 19, 2010, at a Town Hall meeting for the St. Tikhon’s community, His Grace, Bishop TIKHON announced that the Board of Trustees had received the final determination from the Board of Commissioners of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) concerning the Seminary’s application for accreditation renewal. He officially announced that ATS accreditation for St Tikhon’s Seminary has been renewed for a period of 5 years and offered his thanks to all in the Seminary community who had labored diligently in the Self-Study process.