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September 2005 |
Ohio theological school reverses nationwide trend in students
DELAWARE, Ohio - In a distinct departure from other U.S. seminaries, Methodist Theological School in Ohio (MTSO) started the 2005-06 Academic Year Aug. 29 with the highest number of students under the age of 30 the school has seen in a decade. For this academic year, the school has 72 new students and 184 returning students.
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Almost 30 percent of MTSO's entering class is under the age of 30. |
At Opening Convocation, the academic ceremony which officially opens the school year, President Norman E. "Ned" Dewire noted two items making this academic year unique for MTSO: the high number of new students in their '20s, and that this is his final year as president, after 20 years of service.
It has been a nationwide trend for seminaries to increasingly see a preponderance of older, "second-career" students in their entering classes. Many mainline denominations, without devaluing the contributions such students have to make, have expressed concern that younger students are not pursuing seminary educations. Students who achieve their graduate theological degrees at a younger age contribute more years of service, providing stability and history to the church.
Almost 30 percent of MTSO's entering class is under the age of 30, with 22 percent under the age of 25. The average GPA of new students is 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, and 17 of these students have already earned at least one advanced degree. There are three doctors in this year's class - chiropractic, optometry and psychology.
A total of 40 new students are United Methodist, from 14 conferences. The school welcomed new students from eight other denominations, including Baptist, Catholic, United Church of Christ and African Methodist Episcopal. Students arrived on the MTSO campus from 12 states. Approximately 70 percent of the degree-seeking new students are enrolled in the Master of Divinity degree program, the degree which usually leads to ordination.
For more information about MTSO, visit the school's Web site at www.mtso.edu.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008