An Innovative Approach to Addressing Student Debt

It is widely recognized that one of the most serious issues facing undergraduate and graduate students today is the problem of student debt. This issue is particularly significant for divinity students whose vocational aspirations tend toward fields like ministry, teaching, working in non-profit organizations, and other kinds of service professions which do not hold out the promise of high salaries. Divinity schools and seminaries across the country are exploring a variety of ways to address this problem including shortening degree program lengths, using innovative delivery methods, providing debt counseling, and limiting tuition increases. My institution, Regent University School of Divinity, has taken each of these steps, but is also trying an innovative new approach to deal with the problem of student debt.

Thanks to a generous $250,000 grant from the Lilly Endowment's Theological School Initiative to Address Economic Issues Facing Future Ministers program, the School of Divinity has launched a three-year program called "Partners In Ministry Training." This program will  help educate students with regard to securing funding and financial support for their education, as well as provide a means for helping churches partner with divinity students for mutually beneficial relationships. A series of special seminars and training events is planned for students in the program, and the increased availability of ministry opportunities within local churches during students' time at the School of Divinity is also a focus. The program is currently in the process of identifying churches and other organizations who will partner with the School of Divinity in this endeavor. Applications are also being accepted for students who will be beginning their theological studies in Summer or Fall 2015 and who wish to participate in this program. More information is available at this website.

Sixty-seven schools received grants from Lilly totaling over $12 million to experiment with a wide range of new programs to help address the problem of student debt for people going into ministry. It will be exciting to see the results of these efforts in the lives of students and alumni--and the churches that will have partnered with them--in the years to come.