The Unification Theological Seminary (UTS) will run its Master degree programs out of its 4 West 43rd Street Extension Center in Manhattan in New York City and is recruiting students for the Fall term, with registration August 28 and the first day of classes on August 31. The beloved Barrytown property, where UTS began offering courses in 1975, will continue as the venue for the seminary’s program for Doctor of Ministry but also will be dedicated to non profit educational conferences and workshops varying from a weekend to several months in duration. Currently, the Unificationist “Special Task Force” (STF), with nearly 100 young-adult participants, is training there and taking courses offered by UTS professors.

Dr. Tyler Hendricks helping to move in to UTS's new library at the 4 West 43rd St. Extension Center.

Meanwhile, the Extension Center of UTS at 4 W. 43rd St, which had offered evening classes only, will open afternoon classes in addition to evening- and weekend classes for all UTS students. For busy people working toward a future in ministry, counseling or interfaith, UTS has made it easier by expanding its Manhattan programs. It will offer all its enriching courses, great professors and practical job training at a world-class location. Its fully accredited degrees will lead to careers in church leadership and ministry, counseling, chaplaincy, education, interfaith-peace activism as well as to advanced-degree studies. The UTS curriculum will supplement the educational offerings of the Lovin’Life Learning Center (LLLC), making 4 West 43rd the go-to place for education and culture in Midtown.

The Extension Center has been redesigned with a new library and an “Information Commons” including 12 fully-equipped work stations. At the same location students can connect with the Lovin’Life Ministries of Rev. In Jin Moon. The Lovin’Life Learning Center (LLLC) programs are expanding too, so the building will be full of activities, culture, education, art, martial arts, music, yoga, film, and dance. Students will have opportunities to develop as ministers, teachers, counselors and evangelists and to learn all aspects of contemporary worship.

Incoming students say the class schedule is totally convenient. Registration day is August 28, starting at 3 p.m. and going until 9:30 p.m. on site. Classes are offered afternoons and evenings, with intensives on four alternate weekends. All this came about as a result of the UTS Board’s request for a restructuring plan based upon an enhanced partnership between the seminary and the church. Shortly thereafter, the Board elected Rev. In Jin Moon to serve as its Chairperson. Rev. Moon is bringing church resources and expertise to bear upon the seminary's future with judicious care.

Academic Curriculum Richer at Midtown Venue

Students will gain knowledge and practical skills in ministry from Dr. Jacob David, Dr. Mark Isaacs, Dr. Keisuke Noda and Dr. Tyler Hendricks, counseling from Dr. Luonne Rouse, Christian theology and history from Dr. Theodore Shimmyo and Dr. Michael Mickler, the biblical scriptures from Dr. Greg Jones
and Dr. Andrew Wilson, world religions and interfaith from Dr. Mickler, Dr. Wilson, Dr. David and Dr. Ron Brown, and educational methodology from Dr. Kathy Winings and Anne Iparraquirre.

Dr. Kathy Winings, the Academic Dean for UTS helping to tidy up the Manhattan Extension Center on Friday, August 7th.

The Academic Dean is developing an additional menu of products ranging from certificates for a half-day to 18-credits, and to be offered in New York and around the country according to market demand. These offerings will focus on practical ministry and church education, Unification theological topics, and professional- and interfaith competencies.

Dr. Mark Isaacs is launching the first online UTS ministry course this Fall and has more coming soon. These are geared especially for alumni with Master degrees who would like to get the courses they need in order to enroll in the doctoral program. Thanks to a grant from True World Group, Dr. Mickler and Dr. Noda are building a foundation to bring UTS research and resources, including student work, to the attention of church members and the general public.

As an example of innovation, Dr. Noda held an SAT Summer Intensive program entitled "Faith, Character, and Aptitude." The 9-day program provided intensive training for the SAT Reasoning Test, combined with religious education in Divine Principle and college advising sessions for participants and their parents. It was well-received and led to a similar offering to STF members who desire to improve their SAT results and try again to get into that “reach” school.

Prospects for New and Returning UTS Students

UTS students choose from a variety of credit-bearing internships and certification programs. In addition to the LLM and other local ministries, students may choose clinical pastoral education in hospitals, disaster-response training, interfaith activism related to the UN community, and others. Find out more at http://www.uts.edu/chaplaincy-careers.html All students will bear a much greater part of the financial responsibility than they did last year. UTS will be launching a major fundraising drive to assist these students. Rev. Hardaway, director of recruitment, is confirming one-by-one the commuter students’ ability to continue despite additional costs, and the response has been positive. Mr. Paul Rajan has submitted five applications from candidates in India and has 25 more in the pipeline. He is recruiting interfaith students, who will contribute to the spiritual, educational and financial success of UTS. Mr. Kyoung Hyo Kim is working to bring new students from the Philippines and other countries by an arrangement with UTS Asia.

UTS students Masaaki Yoshiga (left) and Zohan Zalehegyr (right).

For students from outside the tri-state area, HSA property management is preparing residential space for UTS students at two locations, in Harlem and Brooklyn. Continuing students with families will live in the Red Hook area and commute, as will several faculty and staff members.

UTS will maintain a long-term vision aimed at developing an undergraduate program that eventually builds into a religious college. If and when this blossoms with an adequate enrollment, it would provide the foundation to return to the Barrytown campus for the purposes of higher education.

These measures have accompanied a reduction of UTS staff and budget. UTS is committed to supporting its fine students even through this period of budgetary constraint, and will mount a major fund-raising campaign and seek to increase student access to newly available resources for student aid.

All interested persons, whether alumni or not, are urged to make a one-time donation or to consider joining our growing community of regular givers. Please visit the following link: Support UTS.

To apply for admission, go to our web site: www.uts.edu, click on “Admissions” and you are on your way.

Contributed by Dr. Tyler Hendricks,
President of the Unification Theological Seminary.