St Vladimir's Seminary in Water Color, by David Lucs
The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) has officially reaffirmed the accreditation status of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS). The Seminary’s accreditation, which had been set to expire in 2021, is now approved through July of 2028.
The official ATS accreditation report was overwhelmingly positive and affirmed the Seminary’s current strengths, notably an emphasis on a “life of formation,” its pan- and inter-Orthodox diversity, and a commitment by the administration and faculty to a mission-based and communication-oriented culture.
“This is high praise that verifies St. Vladimir’s Seminary is uniquely positioned to best prepare our future pastors and leaders to advance the Good News,” said Seminary President Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield. “The accreditation process and ATS’s feedback also gave us opportunity to reflect on areas to strengthen and what we must do moving forward in service of Christ and His Church.”
The reaffirmation of SVOTS’ accreditation followed a comprehensive evaluation visit by a delegation from ATS in the spring of 2021. From April 12–15, representatives from the ATS Commission on Accreditation (COA) virtually visited St. Vladimir’s Seminary in order to verify that the Seminary met all applicable Commission Standards of Accreditation. At the same time the COA Board voted to reaffirm accreditation, it also authorized a follow-up, onsite-focused visit to the school when safe and reasonable to do so, in order to meet normal requirements for an onsite evaluation that could not be met via remote visit.
“We are thankful to ATS for their thorough consideration of the strengths, weaknesses, and enduring vision of St. Vladimir’s Seminary,” said SVOTS Academic Dean Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie. “I am also particularly grateful to my many colleagues at the Seminary who made important contributions to the success of this process!”
Saint Vladimir’s has been accredited by ATS since 1973, and is currently “Accredited in Good Standing,” meaning the school meets all applicable COA Standards of Accreditation. According to ATS, "The school demonstrates educational quality and financial stability and provides evidence that its student learning outcomes are appropriate, rigorous, and being achieved. The Seminary also has no public sanctions (notation/warning, probation, or show cause), and is approved to offer four degrees: Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.), Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master of Arts (M.A.), and Master of Theology (Th.M.)."
