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Evaluative Processes

All degree-seeking students are required to complete a series of assessments for ministry preparedness. These may include:

  1. Personality Assessments

    Students enrolled in FLDC 5300 Vocational Excellence will use the following personality assessments: Enneagram, Golden Personality Profile, and Style Matters Conflict Style Inventory.

  2. Intercultural Development Instrument

    The Intercultural Development Instrument (IDI) is an assessment tool that measures an individual’s intercultural agility and can help to prepare students for pastoral work in diverse ministry settings. Students take the IDI in their first year as part of FLDC 7315 Intercultural Development Module, and results are confidential to the student and IDI administrator. The IDI may be referenced to help craft the student’s field education plan. Students take the IDI again when enrolled in FLDC 7318 Theological Reflection Module.

  3. MDiv Candidacy Evaluation

    The MDiv Candidacy Evaluation is the first VSFL checkpoint for Master of Divinity students. When students have completed one third of the MDiv program, they are required to submit a reflection paper which is read by a faculty team. Students then meet with their faculty team in a process of discernment, reflection, and guidance.

    The faculty team makes personal recommendations which are communicated to the student by the Director of Seminary Student Life and Formation. The full faculty votes on the outcome of the process to affirm the student’s candidacy for the MDiv degree, or in rare cases, to not recommend the student as a candidate for the MDiv.

  4. Mid-Program Review Evaluation

    All degree-seeking students participate in this VSFL checkpoint when they have completed approximately two- thirds of their degree program. Like MDiv Candidacy, during Mid-Program Review, a student is assigned a faculty team who is given access to their reflection paper. The interview portion is geared toward communal reflection and recommendations as discerned by the team. The full faculty votes to affirm whether or not the student is adequately progressing in their degree program. Results of the vote and personal recommendations are communicated to the student by the Director of Seminary Student Life and Formation.

  5. Graduation Clearance

    Graduation clearance is the final VSFL checkpoint for all students. Students apply for graduation in the semester prior to their expected semester of graduation and receive a full academic audit by the end of that term. Results are presented to the full faculty who then vote to confer the degree pending the student’s successful completion of final degree requirements.