DEPARTMENT CHAIR NAMED

The Grace College administration has announced the
appointment of Tiberius Rata, Ph.D., as chair of the
Department of Biblical Studies. Dr. Rata, Professor
of Old Testament Studies, joined the Grace faculty in
2005. He is a graduate of California State Polytechnic
University (B.S.), Golden Gate Baptist Theological
Seminary (M.Div.), and Trinity Evangelical Divinity
School (Ph.D.).

The Department of Biblical Studies is part of Grace’s
School of Ministry Studies, consisting of the undergraduate
Department of Biblical Studies and Grace
Theological Seminary. Dr. Rata is leading the department
in implementing several curriculum changes and
explained that the department is committed to a
balanced approach to ministry education, stressing
both academics and the practice of ministry. To
accomplish this, he said, majors in the department will
have the experience of ministry internships, as well as
classroom instruction

Grace Seminary Online Course Policy Announcement

The following announcement is from Dr. Jeff Gill, Dean:

Since we do not have a full complement of courses available and since we are only in the development stage of courses online we will allow students to have access to all the courses currently not delivered online and direct students to fill the online courses if they desire those courses. 

Also, please note that students are welcome to enroll in the second online course this fall which begins 8 weeks later than the fall kickoff on 9/1. 

 

Lee Compson
Director of Seminary Admissions
gtsrec@grace.edu

Grace College Named Among Top Midwestern Colleges

U.S. News and World Report today named Grace College in Winona Lake to the top tier of its “Best Baccalaureate Colleges in the Midwest” for 2009.

U.S. News and World Report’s annual rankings are based on a number of criteria, including academic reputation, retention rates, graduation rates, faculty, selective admissions practices, financial resources, and alumni giving.

Grace College’s top-tier ranking comes at a time when large numbers of prospective students are applying to the college. The campus is preparing to welcome an estimated 350 new full-time freshmen and transfer students at its new student registration on August 30. The new students come from 26 states and nine foreign countries. Fifteen of the new freshmen at Grace this fall graduated high school as valedictorians and five as salutatorians.

The increasing numbers of applicants are attracted to Grace because of several factors, including the college’s commitment to academic achievement and to the Christian faith. In recent years, Grace has continued to build on its strengths with innovative programs such as the Millennial Scholars Academy, Orthopaedic Scholar Institute, and Presidential Scholarship Competition. In addition, Grace provides students with increasing opportunities for community involvement and domestic and foreign ministries.

Grace starts the fall semester this year with a newly implemented academic organization structure designed to further enhance its academic programs. The college consists of four schools: the School of Arts and Sciences, School of Ministry Studies, School of Music, and School of Adult and Community Education. Grace offers more than 50 majors in its undergraduate departments: Art, Behavioral Science, Biblical Studies, Business, Communication, English and Journalism, Foreign Languages and Cultures, History and Social Studies, Nursing, Science and Mathematics, and School of Music. In addition, the college offers six undergraduate pre-professional programs: pre-law, pre-med, pre-veterinary, pre-physical therapy, pre-dentistry, and pre-physician assistant.

The Grace Graduate Department of Counseling and Interpersonal Relations offers two master’s degree programs. Master’s and doctoral-level programs are offered by Grace Theological Seminary.

Among new programs at Grace this year are two master’s degrees in the seminary featuring blended studies, with on-campus and online components. In addition, the college’s School of Adult and Community Education recently announced its new GOAL (Grace Opportunities for Adult Learners) degree completion program. GOAL provides the opportunity for those who have some college credits to complete their studies and earn a Bachelor of Science in Management degree in as little as 16 months on a convenient evening class schedule. GOAL classes begin in January 2009, and other undergraduate and graduate degree programs for adult learners and online blended learning are in development.

GOAL classes are scheduled in state-of-the-art classroom facilities in the newest building on the Grace campus, the Orthopaedic Capital Center, which was completed last year as the result of a partnership with the local orthopaedic businesses and community. In addition to classroom facilities, the Orthopaedic Capital Center houses an events and sports complex that is the largest of its kind in Kosciusko County.

Last month, Grace also was recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the best colleges and universities in the Midwest. The New York City-based education services company selected Grace as one of the institutions it recommends in its "Best in the Midwest" section on its Web site feature, 2009 Best Colleges: Region by Region.

Grace College is an evangelical Christian liberal arts college that applies biblical values in strengthening character, sharpening competence, and preparing for service. Grace enrolls more than 1,200 students from approximately 40 states and 20 countries. The academic, residential, athletic, and social aspects of the college are designed to encourage intellectual and spiritual growth in a supportive campus community. The college’s 165-acre campus is located in Winona Lake, Indiana. For more information about Grace College, visit www.grace.edu.

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Contact: Joel B. Curry, Director of Marketing and Communication
574.372.5100 ext 6403

Affordable, Convenient Online Education

Did you know that earning a degree from Grace Theological Seminary has never been more affordable and convenient? That’s right! Beginning August 29, students in the Seminary’s online program will begin a meaningful theological education—without leaving your ministry position—at one of the nation’s most respected seminaries.

We realize education takes time and costs money. But we are committed to helping you every step of the way. The online format helps with the time issue, but we’re also willing to help you financially.

Through the Sparks Endowment, all eligible students may receive up to $65 per credit hour in scholarship funds. With tuition set at $300 per credit hour, you will quickly see the value when you enroll in the Master of Arts in Local Church Studies or the Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies programs. These programs will strengthen your current ministry or profession, and with your scholarship, your tuition per credit hour could be as low as $235. That’s a great savings and value!

So, are you ready to pursue a degree—online—from Grace Theological Seminary? By moving forward with your education at Grace, you won’t have to spend money on significant travel expenses, nor will you have to take vacation days to sit in a classroom. The majority of the classes will come directly through your computer—whether you are home, at work, or relaxing on a beach.

I encourage you to take advantage of this great opportunity today! Call Jim Hill at 800.544.7223, extension 6435 or complete the online application by visiting http://gts.grace.edu/apply.htm. We promise to approve all qualified candidates within one day of receiving your official transcript and references!

Warmly in Christ,

Jeffrey Gill, D.Min.

Dean

Grace Theological Seminary

p.s.:
With classes beginning on August 29, take the next step in your ministry by completing the online application today. All eligible students will receive up to a $65 per credit hour scholarship. The online course fees will remain at $125 per course.

Reminder of Sparks Endowment (GTS) Scholarship Deadline

The deadline for the Sparks Endowment (GTS) scholarship for the fall 2008 semester is August 1.  This application can be submitted online:

http://www.gts.grace.edu/GTS-scholarship-application.htm

Dr. Rata's Article Published

Dr. Tiberius Rata wrote an article on David which
was published recently in InterVarsity Press’ Dictionary
of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings.
The bibliographic citation is: Tiberius Rata,
“David,” pages 86-88 in The Dictionary of the Old
Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings, edited by
Tremper Longman III and Peter Enns (Downers
Grove: Illinois, 2008).

This third Old Testament volume in InterVarsity
Press’ celebrated “Black Dictionary” series offers 148
articles covering all the important aspects of Job,
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Psalms, Song of Songs,
Lamentations, Ruth, and Esther. More than 90
contributers have provided information for this
book. To read more, visit www.ivpress.com/cgiivpress/
book.pl/code=1783

Curriculum Published for the Online MA Programs

The curriculum for the new online programs has been published on the Grace Theological Seminary web site.  This includes the MA Local Church Ministry program and the MA Intercultural Studies degree.  The course offering schedules have also been posted for these programs.  The revised curriculum added a three-phase ministry preparation course spread over the three final semesters of the last year.  There are still a total of three face to face class sessions, with one in the fall of the first year for a colloquial gathering, one the following spring, and the third and final visit in the spring of the second year.  All of this information is available on the distance education page and also in downloadable PDF format:

http://gts.grace.edu/distance-education.htm 

Grace Theological Seminary began their online MA program in January and is expanding the program in the fall of 2008.  For more information contact Jim Hill at hilljm@grace.edu,  phone at 1-800-54-GRACE x-6435, or by Skype at jimhill1099.