Accreditation
AJR is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS). Accreditation is a process that evaluates quality and provides a road map for institutional improvements. It assures students that their academic programs meet nationally recognized standards and is required for the Seminary to receive federal funds for student financial aid. It assures financial supporters that AJR is engaged in appropriate educational efforts and that those efforts conform to normative expectations of quality,
AJR is proud to be the only Jewish organization accredited by ATS, opening the doors to important and valuable interfaith work and interseminary dialogue. ATS schools include 270 seminaries and divinity schools, including Harvard Divinity School, Yale Divinity School, and Princeton Theological Seminary.
AJR engaged in an institutional self-study during 2018-2019. This process included our full community, including Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, staff, students, and alumni. A comprehensive peer review visit occurred in March 2020 and AJR was awarded initial accreditation for the maximum time of seven years. Engaging in this accreditation process gave us an opportunity to build on our strengths, and to implement institutional changes that further our mission. AJR is very pleased that our students will soon be eligible for federal loans under Title IV.
For information regarding AJR’s accredited status, or to receive a copy of AJR’s accreditation, please contact AJR’s ATS liaison, Dr. Barbara Mutch.
About ATS
More than 270 graduate schools of theology in the United States and Canada form The Association of Theological Schools. Member schools conduct post-baccalaureate professional and academic degree programs to educate persons for the practice of ministry and for teaching and research in the theological disciplines. These schools differ from one another in deep and significant ways, but through their membership in ATS, they demonstrate a commitment to shared values about what constitutes good theological education.
A list of ATS Member Schools is available here.
Statement of Educational Effectiveness
In compliance with accreditation requirements, the Academy for Jewish Religion publishes the data as indicators of the school’s educational effectiveness and outcomes. Data is taken from surveys of graduating students and alumni. The report is available as a PDF here.
