The GTU’s Journey: Rooted in Faith, Growing in Possibilities “The GTU is a unique community, formed from a series of covenants, agreements, and contracts. Remarkable things have happened in the GTU, there is much unfinished business underway, and there are possibilities as yet unexplored.” — Claude Welch, Annual Report of the Dean & President to the Board of Trustees, September 15, 1973
Shifting Spiritual Contexts: An Opportunity to Shape the Future of Theological Education How the world is changing: • Appetite for spiritual guidance and fulfillment is high • Religious affiliation will never look the same
Opportunities abound for higher education to meet the needs of this changing spiritual landscape The dynamics of engagement are changing in an accelerated way, including: • Greater use of new technologies • Higher expectations for career outcomes • Intersection with professional development and personal enrichment The GTU is seizing this opportunity to respond by bringing forward a new vision: GTU 2.0.
A Bold New Step: Introducing GTU 2.0 The GTU is poised to sharpen its focus to achieve a much-needed goal: Becoming the foremost destination for moral and ethical leaders to create a more just, loving, and sustainable world. The road to GTU 2.0’s success will include three main components : • Global: combining our resources with new technologies to dramatically increase access to spiritual education to anyone, anywhere; •
Rooted: developing new pathways that speak to the practical application of spirituallyrooted theological education for people at many levels of interest; and
• Collaborative: creating brand-new content that can be shared in many ways, with an emphasis on collaboration and connection among students, scholars, and faculty.
Building GTU 2.0 To accomplish our purpose, the GTU has identified key areas through which we will facilitate the changing needs of a broad range of students. • Reimagining services and curricular models to offer degree students greater access to learning • Program innovation to better prepare students for a range of career pathways and outcomes • GTUx: A new way to think about content, reaching new audiences
Our Renewed Purpose and Criteria for Success GTU 2.0 will dramatically expand the GTU’s global footprint, reaching more people and more points of engagement than at any time in our history. To achieve these goals, the GTU has committed itself to achieving each of the following criteria for success: • Ambitious and Bold Initiatives • Serving a Broad Population • Living our Unique Promise • Leading for the Future • Creative Partnerships
Join the GTU in forging the future of religious education: Imagine the possibilities with us! From its founding, the GTU has been an experiment rooted in faith. United in common cause of exploring the ways that the world’s spiritual traditions inspire meaningful change in the world, the GTU has always been open to new pathways and possibilities. Today, we foresee both a challenge and an opportunity to take a giant step forward in our evolution as the premiere center for spiritually-rooted higher learning. Now is the time to begin imagining the possibilities together.
Thank You!
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