Technology: The Tie That Binds Higher Ed

Technology: The Tie That Binds Higher Ed

Seminary Helps Link Colleges, Universities

LEXINGTON, Ky., Dec. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Connecting 14 colleges and universities from California to northern Ohio was something of a challenge—until an education platform used by Lexington Theological Seminary brought them together.

Texas Christian University in Fort Worth; Culver-Stockton College in Missouri; and Chapman University in California have something in common: They are all affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), along with 11 other colleges and universities. Lexington Theological Seminary is also affiliated with the denomination.

The Colleges and Universities of the Christian Church, or TCUCC, works to bring the schools together on their common Disciples ground. The Rev. Guy Waldrop, director of the Council of Colleges and Universities of the Christian Church, the parent organization of TCUCC, meets bi-monthly with the schools' chaplains.

The meetings come to life with the help of the Seminary, which is integrating face-to-face technology in its online program. Up to two-thirds of seminary courses are offered online as students are based in congregations around the U.S., and the Seminary has worked to make the online experience as close to in-person meetings as possible.

Ben Wyatt, director of information technology at LTS, oversees the virtual meetings between Waldrop and the chaplains. "Through this partnership, I believe LTS has the opportunity to share best practices and give those individuals the opportunity to use cutting edge technology. In the long run, this technology will help the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and their institutions, as well as the students who attend those institutions," Wyatt said.

"We are pleased to partner with TCUCC as it endeavors to meet the needs of college chaplains and therefore college students," said LTS president Dr. Charisse L. Gillett.

"Lexington Theological Seminary is providing leadership to help our chaplains have conversations about issues that are of concern to them and to the colleges and the Church," Waldrop said.

For more information about Disciples related colleges/universities, visit www.tcucc.org.  

Lexington Theological Seminary is a graduate theological institution of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), accredited by the Association of Theological Schools.  Consistent with the Disciples' historic commitment to Christian unity, the Seminary is intentionally ecumenical with students, faculty, staff and trustees of various denominations. The Seminary has been preparing leaders for the church since 1865. For more information, visit www.lextheo.edu.

CONTACT: Beth Goins, +1-502-316-4575, [email protected]

SOURCE Lexington Theological Seminary