Strategic Short: Building Institutional Capacity through Student Readiness

In a recent conversation with Albert Mosley, Ph.D., president of Morningside University, and Valerie Olson Robideaux, senior associate dean for student success at the University of Miami, host David Rowe, Ph.D., explores how institutions can shift their strategies and mindsets to better support students. Dr. Mosley and Valerie Olson Robideaux emphasize the importance of aligning institutional strategies with student readiness initiatives to promote academic achievement and support institutional growth. Through targeted programs and support systems, institutions can better equip students to meet academic challenges, ultimately enhancing overall effectiveness. The following are some considerations.

Rethink Assessment of Learning

Move from traditional academic assessment models to a more holistic assessment approach that tracks growth in ministerial formation:

• Use portfolios to reflect theological development
• Involve ministry supervisors in feedback
• Emphasize competencies, not just course completions

Ongoing Commitment to Becoming a Learning Organization

Support student success by designing around student experience and being willing to adapt. Ask clarifying questions:

• Who are your students, and why are they here? What are their needs?
• Where do students succeed or struggle to meet their goals?
• In what ways do you empower students? In what ways do you disempower students?

Three Priorities

To become student-ready, Valerie suggests schools shape their strategies around the following priorities:

1. Service: What do students need outside the classroom (mental health, financial needs, resources)?
2. Process: Are internal systems and policies helping or hindering? Consider things like late fees, registration holds and leaves of absence.
3. Team: Working with faculty and staff around innovating for student success. How can we promote student success?

Additional Considerations for Student Success:

• Invest in faculty development.
• Design with empathy for diverse life experiences.
• Design community building initiatives (e.g., affinity groups, mentoring)
• Consider flexible pathways to degree programs.

Strategic Shorts, a video series designed to strengthen institutional capacity in theological education, features host Dr. David Rowe asking 2 industry experts 3 questions on critical topics relevant to theological education.