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<h1 class="entry-title">STATEMENT OF EDUCATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT</h1><p>Phoenix Seminary is committed to integrity and Christian stewardship. Therefore, it engages in systematic evaluation of its effectiveness in producing graduates who possess the knowledge, skills and character indicated in our Educational Values. Student achievement and the Seminary’s educational effectiveness are measured through 1) the assessment of student learning outcomes; 2) graduation and retention rates and 3) graduate satisfaction and successful ministry employment.</p><p>Indicators of program effectiveness include both institutional and self-reported participant data that taken together help to ensure congruence between vocational intention and theological training. To aid in consistent and reliable reporting, our evaluative processes incorporate data reported to the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), our professional accrediting association. Two of the most common indicators of educational effectiveness in higher education are completion rates and the placement of graduates. Reports pertaining to these key areas are summarized below.</p><p>Master of Arts in Counseling (MAC) students are required to pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) as their comprehensive written exam. The current pass rate of the CPCE is 100% at or above the national examination mean. This exam also helps prepare graduates to take the National Counselor Exam (NCE) which is similar in format and covers the same eight core content areas. Not all graduates take the NCE; some opting to pursue further education or to pursue other vocational opportunities. The current pass rate of graduates known to have taken the NCE is 100%.</p><p>Specific questions about the data, or its reporting and analysis may be directed to the Phoenix Seminary Director of Assessment, Roma Royer, at <a href="mailto:rroyer@ps.edu">rroyer@ps.edu</a> or 602-429-4947). These data are updated annually early in the calendar year after the filing of the annual ATS report.</p><h2>Student Learning Outcomes</h2><p>The majority of our students meet the student learning outcomes reflected in the Educational Values of Phoenix Seminary. Some specific examples include:</p><p>1. For the last three years, 100% of our students have passed the culminating theological oral exam.</p><p>2. The 2014-15 Faculty Juried Review of Graduates indicate that 100% of those reviewed met or exceeded all student learning outcomes.</p><p>3. Student feedback in the most recent Seminary Experience Inventory indicates that students are extremely satisfied with a variety of issues that are important to them: a) Faculty exemplify a deep faith commitment and demonstrate expert knowledge and depth of insight; b) Students are developing a deeper spiritual life and faith commitment; and c) The degree programs provide an integration of theory, theology and application.</p><p>4. Employers of PS Graduates are overwhelmingly positive and say: a) They demonstrate a working knowledge and command of the Scriptures (100%); b) They demonstrate an ability to work with people in ministry (94%).</p><h2>Graduation and Retention Rates</h2><p><strong>Completions by Graduation Rate for the Previous Academic Year (</strong><em>ATS Fall 2015 Report</em><strong>)</strong></p><table width="720"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Program</strong></td><td width="63"><strong>&lt;2 years</strong></td><td width="75"><strong>2-&lt;3 years</strong></td><td width="75"><strong>3-&lt;4 years</strong></td><td width="75"><strong>4-&lt;5 years</strong></td><td width="75"><strong>5-&lt;6 years</strong></td><td width="75"><strong>6+ years</strong></td><td width="90"><strong>Totals</strong></td></tr><tr><td>MDiv</td><td width="63">0</td><td width="75">0</td><td width="75">1</td><td width="75">2</td><td width="75">0</td><td width="75">3</td><td width="90">6</td></tr><tr><td>MA in ______  (Special)</td><td width="63">0</td><td width="75">0</td><td width="75">8</td><td width="75">3</td><td width="75">3</td><td width="75">6</td><td width="90">20</td></tr><tr><td>DMin</td><td width="63">0</td><td width="75">0</td><td width="75">0</td><td width="75">0</td><td width="75">0</td><td width="75">0</td><td width="90">0</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><strong>Graduation Rates by Degree Program</strong></p><p>The new (and not yet mandatory) Association of Theological Schools’ Graduation Rates by Degree Program Report calculates graduation rates on the basis of 200% of the normal degree duration requirements to allow for the high number of part-time students in ATS member schools. This report answers the question, “Of the students who began in a particular Fall semester, how many had completed their program within 200% of the normal degree duration?”</p><ul><li>Master of Divinity Cohort Graduation Rate: 43.75% (MDiv Students beginning Fall 2009)</li><li>Master of Arts Cohort Graduation Rate: 38.46% (MA Students beginning Fall 2011)</li></ul><p><strong>Graduation / Persistence Rates</strong></p><p>The new (and not yet mandatory) Association of Theological Schools’ Graduation / Persistence Report calculates graduation and persistence rates by extending the scope beyond 200% of the normal degree duration requirements, once again to allow for the high number of part-time students in ATS member schools. This report answers the question, “Of the students who began in a particular Fall semester, how many have since completed their degree or are still actively making progress towards their degree?”</p><ul><li>Master of Divinity Cohort Graduation / Persistence Rate: 62.50% (MDiv Students beginning Fall 2009)</li><li>Master of Arts Cohort Graduation / Persistence Rate: 84.61% (MA Students beginning Fall 2011)</li></ul><p><strong>Retention Rates</strong></p><p>Although IPEDS [Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System] requires the reporting of retention information for undergraduate institutions, it does not give an option for graduate schools like Phoenix Seminary to report the same. That being said, IPEDS’ measure for Retention Rates can be adapted to work in graduate settings as the percentage of first-time degree-seeking students from the previous Fall semester who either re-enrolled or successfully completed their program by the subsequent Fall semester. This report answers the question, “Of the degree-seeking students who were enrolled in a particular Fall semester, how many either successfully completed their degree or were actively making progress towards their degree in the subsequent Fall semester?”</p><ul><li>Fall 2014 to Fall 2015 Retention Rate: 78.44%</li><li>Fall 2013 to Fall 2014 Retention Rate: 78.70%</li><li>Fall 2012 to Fall 2013 Retention Rate: 79.52%</li></ul><h2>Graduate Satisfaction and Ministry Employment</h2><p><strong>Graduate Satisfaction</strong></p><p>The <em>ATS Graduating Student Questionnaire</em> reports the following areas of growth and satisfaction among Phoenix Seminary’s recent graduates:</p><p><strong>PS graduates rate their seminary education as being most effective in facilitating these areas of personal growth (2012-15):</strong></p><ul><li>Trust in God</li><li>Ability to live one’s faith in daily life</li></ul><p><strong>PS graduates rate their seminary education as being most effective in facilitating the following skill areas (2011-15):</strong></p><ul><li>Ability to use and interpret Scripture</li><li>Ability to think theologically</li></ul><p><strong>PS graduates were most satisfied with the following services and academic resources (2015):</strong></p><ul><li>Accessibility of faculty</li><li>Quality of teaching</li><li>Class size</li><li>Academic Advising</li><li>Financial Aid</li></ul><p><strong>Ministry Employment</strong></p><p>The majority of Phoenix Seminary students find ministry positions while they are in seminary or are already in ministry when they begin attending seminary.  The following percentage of students secured such a position upon graduation: 70% in 2014 and 66% in 2015.</p><p>Phoenix Seminary offers Vocational Assistance for students who are seeking placement during or after their studies. Graduates are serving in the following ways: pastoral ministry in the local church; intercultural ministry overseas and in the U.S.; various levels of leadership in a variety of para-church organizations; counseling and chaplaincy in secular and Christian arenas; leadership in the marketplace through professions such as law, business and medicine; and lay ministers in the local church.</p><p>The <em>2014-15 ATS Graduating Student Questionnaire</em> results for Phoenix Seminary reflect this information:</p><p><strong>Position Expected After Graduation</strong></p><p>This information demonstrates the ministry expectations of new PS graduates:</p><table width="556"><tbody><tr><td width="474"><strong>Position anticipated upon graduation by PS graduates</strong></td></tr><tr><td width="474"><em>(ATS Graduating Student Questionnaire 2014-15 – 80</em>% response rate)</td><td width="83"><em> </em></td></tr><tr><td width="474">Pastor</td><td width="83">37.5%</td></tr><tr><td width="474">Associate Pastor</td><td width="83">16.7%</td></tr><tr><td width="474">Other</td><td width="83">16.7%</td></tr><tr><td width="474">Youth work or ministry</td><td width="83">8.3%</td></tr><tr><td width="474">Unsure what position within a congregation</td><td width="83">4.2%</td></tr><tr><td width="474">Healthcare chaplaincy</td><td width="83">4.2%</td></tr><tr><td width="474">Missionary service</td><td width="83">4.2%</td></tr><tr><td width="474">Social work/social services</td><td width="83">4.2%</td></tr><tr><td width="474">Undecided</td><td width="83">4.2%</td></tr><tr><td width="474"> </td><td width="83"> </td></tr><tr><td width="474"> </td><td width="83"> </td></tr><tr><td width="474"><strong>PS graduates offered a position upon graduation</strong></td><td width="83"> </td></tr><tr><td width="474"><em>(ATS Graduating Student Questionnaire 2014-15 – 80</em>% response rate)</td><td width="83"> </td></tr><tr><td width="474">Yes</td><td width="83">29.2%</td></tr><tr><td width="474">No</td><td width="83">33.3%</td></tr><tr><td width="474"><em>Continuing in present ministry position</em></td><td width="83">33.3%</td></tr><tr><td width="474">Earned degree for personal use and won’t seek related employment</td><td width="83">4.2%</td></tr><tr><td width="474">Plan to pursue further study after this degree</td><td width="83">0%</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><h3><strong>Comparison with Other Accredited Graduate Theological Schools </strong></h3><p>The <em>2015-16 ATS Strategic Information Report</em> (SIR) on Phoenix Seminary charts Positive Placements.  ATS defines “positive placement” as graduates who “within one year of graduation either received a vocational placement, a non-vocational placement or went on for further study.”  Phoenix Seminary’s overall placement rate for 2015 was 97%.  This may be compared with other Evangelical schools (74%), Mainline schools (77%) and Roman Catholic/Orthodox schools (84%) and all ATS accredited schools (77%). <em>ATS 2015-16 Phoenix Seminary SIR, figures 1-20a through 1-20f.</em></p><p><em>(Page updated on 3/23/16.)</em></p>

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