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NOBTS trustee committee adjusts for new technology


NEW ORLEANS (BP) — A technology advance of benefit to students and two faculty retirements garnered action from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustee executive committee June 5.

NOLA2U, a synchronous online program allowing students full classroom participation from their home computers, prompted trustee approval for closing the graduate program at the Southwest Louisiana extension center in Lafayette, La.

The online program aids student convenience as it replaces the compressed interactive video program that previously required students to be seated in an extension center classroom. The center’s undergraduate program continues unchanged.

Two retiring faculty members were honored: Gerald Stevens, a 30-year faculty member in the NOBTS biblical studies division, was named distinguished professor of New Testament and Greek while Clay Corvin, vice president for business affairs with 39 years of service at the seminary, was named a distinguished professor.

In other action relating to faculty, Loretta Rivers, professor of social work, was named associate dean of graduate studies and Jamie Killion was named ministry-based associate professor of voice and conducting. Two faculty members were approved to occupy division chairs: Archie England, biblical studies division, and Lloyd Harsch, theological and historical division.

Trustee action related to curriculum changes included a language requirement revision for the Ph.D. in Christian apologetics. A minimum of three semester hours in formal logic — the language of philosophy and apologetics — was instituted along with nine semester hours of master’s level Greek and/or Hebrew prior to admission.

In other action, trustees approved the reduction of the master of theological studies degree from 49 to 44 hours and the addition of the course “Student Process Group” to the master of arts in counseling degree.

Chuck Kelley, NOBTS president, introduced two new sites for the NOBTS Leavell College certificate program and noted the program’s impact in reaching new student demographics and building student body diversity.

The new sites approved by the trustees for the Church Leadership Certificate program are the Union Number 3 Baptist Church in Gadsden, Ala., and the Fayette County Association office in Fayette, Ala.

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  • Marilyn Stewart