Enrollment & Student Affairs achieves its mission and goals through the work of four offices and ten program/service areas. Program/service areas include academic support services, admissions, career services, community life, enrollment management, financial aid, international students and scholar services, new student programs, spiritual formation, and student leadership programs. Core offices include:
Vocational Support and Development
Columbia’s students seeking a call find a wide range of ministry options available to them at graduation. While the majority of master’s degrees graduates accept calls to congregational ministries, others are called into different areas of Christian service to the Church and world. These avenues include further graduate study in one of the traditional theological disciplines; Clinical Pastoral Education and focused THE OFFICE OF THE DEAN OF STUDENTS is the study in the art and science of pastoral care; work principal advocate for all students of the seminary. in international missions; service in a social ministry The office enhances organizational effectiveness agency; chaplaincy in hospitals, schools, or the within enrollment and student affairs and ensures military services; campus ministry; teaching; and that its offices both support and advance the mission ministry in denominational staff positions. of Columbia Theological Seminary. Housed within the Office of Student Affairs and Community Life, Vocational Services seeks to further the mission of Columbia Theological integrate vocational discernment and placement Seminary by attracting, admitting, and enrolling services. We partner with the entire community in talented, diverse students for all Columbia degree creating a culture of discernment, providing programs and helping them obtain the financial reopportunities for growth and practice, and guiding sources necessary to make their education students with practical job search skills. affordable. Programming includes workshops on discernment, resume and cover letter writing, interview skills, THE OFFICE OF STUDENT AFFAIRS & networking, and negotiating a call. Individual advising COMMUNITY LIFE furthers the mission of includes guidance on discernment, the ordination Columbia Theological Seminary by creating culturally adaptive, student- centered programs that process, preparation for exams, and review of job search materials. contribute to every student’s sense of belonging while challenging and empowering students to Columbia maintains close ties with congregations constructively engage across difference. seeking pastors and other calling agencies. Announcements are posted regarding a wide variety THE CENTER FOR ACADEMIC LITERACY (CAL) of ministry opportunities. Individual personal furthers the mission of Columbia Theological information forms are sent to congregations and Seminary by offering free one-on-one coaching, agencies that request them. Each year pastor resources, workshops, classroom instruction, and nominating committees come to campus to special programming to support students in the interview seniors. As a result of these efforts, development of their graduate-level academic graduates ordinarily receive calls in a timely manner. competencies. CAL seeks to empower students However, while Columbia can provide the resources from all educational and linguistic backgrounds in and consultation, responsibility for placement after skills such as analytical writing, critical reading and graduation lies with the student. thinking, theological research, and study skills. THE OFFICES OF ADMISSION & FINANCIAL AID
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