By Marilyn Stewart, NOBTS public relations
NEW ORLEANS (BP) — The creation of a new vice president position for enrollment was approved by the executive committee of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s trustees in a June 4 meeting.
The vice president for enrollment, a position created to provide oversight for all departments essential for a healthy enrollment, will act as chief strategist and catalyst for enrollment-related matters for NOBTS and its Leavell College. A candidate for the position will be named at a later date.
Student services related to recruitment, admissions, advisement, success, retention and completion as well as financial aid and the registrar’s services will be included under the vice president for enrollment’s oversight.
In other action, the board approved the transition of the church history major in the Ph.D. program to a concentration within the theology major. The transition provides students the option of writing a dissertation in either theology or church history. Church history will continue to be offered as a minor and, if needed, can be revived later as a major.
Two other majors in the Ph.D. program were “suspended” — the missions major and the Great Commission studies major. These changes come in conjunction with an earlier transition and allow NOBTS to maintain missions as a minor at the doctoral level. The major can be revived later if needed.
Articulation agreements with Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee and Welch College in Gallatin, Tenn., were announced. The agreements signal a partnership between NOBTS and the colleges and outlines a plan by which pastoral ministry or Christian studies students may complete an M.Div. at NOBTS in two years.
For students enrolled at NOBTS’ Leavell College, the program creates a path for earning both a bachelor of arts degree and a master of divinity degree in five years. Information on the program, to be led by Charles Ray III, is available at www.nobts.edu/ba-mdiv.
“We continue to be excited about this new opportunity for students to save time and money while pursuing a quality education,” NOBTS Provost Norris Grubbs said. “The partnership with these institutions will allow students to align their schedules so they can gain the maximum benefit from our advanced standing programs.”
Grubbs reported that enrollment remains steady. Pattie Shoener, vice president of human resources, reported that finances remain healthy and on target for the academic year’s end, July 31.
In a special called meeting of the full NOBTS trustee board on June 5, James “Jamie” Dew was elected president of the seminary to succeed Chuck Kelley who retires July 31, having led the seminary since 1996. Dew comes to NOBTS from his position as vice president for undergraduate studies and distance learning at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C.
