Mrs. Jane Jeffrey

Assistant Dean of Studies

Following a successful visitation by its accreditors in the spring of 2004, Sacred Heart Major Seminary has been granted continuing accreditation by its major accrediting agencies.

Sacred Heart is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC), and by the Association of Theological Schools of the United States and Canada (ATS). Both agencies voted last year (ATS in June, HLC in October) to approve continued accreditation of the seminary through 2014. The ten-year period is the maximum length that the accrediting agencies allow between visitations and indicates the agencies consider Sacred Heart a healthy institution that will continue to be successful.

Thorough Visitation

The seminary prepared for the accrediting review by conducting an institutional self-study, which examines every aspect of the institution, from its academic programs, personnel policies, governing board, and planning processes, to its commitment to students and practice of integrity. The self-study was a three-year long process that sought input from all of the seminary's constituencies.

This past spring, Sacred Heart hosted a five-member team representing both accrediting agencies. The team consisted of peers from different academic institutions, including the rector of a Catholic seminary, a librarian at a theological school and a dean of large undergraduate institution.

The team conducted a three-day visit and evaluation of the seminary. They spoke to students, alumni, faculty, staff and board members, conducted a review of our policies and practices, and got a sense of what it means to study at "the Heart." The purpose of the team's visit was to make a recommendation to our accrediting agencies regarding continued accreditation. It was also, though, a chance for Sacred Heart to get valuable feedback from our peers on how to improve our programs.

Praise and Improvement

The team commended us for our strong institutional morale and for our qualified and dedicated faculty, staff, board and administration. They noted our initiatives for continued growth, such as the STL program and the newly constructed smart classroom. In addition, they praised our students as "qualified, dedicated, and committed to the mission of the church and invested in the seminary's programs."

They also recommended that Sacred Heart give attention to various areas for growth, such as improving our program for outcomes assessment, strengthening our enrollment management plan, improving our program for development and evaluation of board of trustees members, and continuing to develop plans for anticipated library growth. We have already begun implementing these suggestions by beginning revision of our current outcomes assessment plan and by developing an enrollment management plan under the guidance of our newly hired enrollment management director. Sacred Heart will make a report back in three years to both ATS and NCA in these areas.

For the New Evangelization

We in the dean of studies office wish to thank everyone who participated in the successful accreditation process. In the years ahead, know we will continue to work toward the fulfillment of the vision of Adam Cardinal Maida, that Sacred Heart "be of national stature and the premier seminary in the region . . . for the sake of the New Evangelization in the Third Christian Millennium."