Office of Public Affairs Acadia University Wolfville, Nova Scotia B0P 1X0 (902) 585-1362 Fax (902) 585-1072 News Release For Release: September 27, 2000

Acadia Divinity College online with University

(Wolfville, NS) - The Acadia Divinity College has received a grant for $300,000 US from Lilly Endowment Inc. The grant will be used to develop a learning environment that will make full use of advances in information technology. This will include faculty training, equipment purchases, the creation of a multimedia studio and access to the same mobile computing environment that is currently used by Acadia University.

"Lilly Endowment was looking for ways to use information technology to enhance the teaching of traditional theology," stated Acadia Divinity College Project Director, Professor Glenn Wooden. Forty grants were made in the US and Canada, however Acadia Divinity College is the only Canadian recipient. The College feels that the technological infrastructure implemented to support the Acadia Advantage Program significantly increased the College's candidacy.

"Decentralizing the learning process through Internet technology alters the traditional classroom hierarchy and empowers the student by making the professor more a facilitator-mentor who guides a student initiated learning process," stated Professor Wooden. "Our Baptist roots support such an approach to teaching theology, because we have always stood for open inquiry into Christian faith, under God."

For some courses, this initiative will simply provide a better delivery system, by making class materials available through Internet access, or on CD Rom. For others, it will result in a very different way of learning and teaching, by guiding discussion on the Internet, collaborative projects with people in other countries, and other technologically based initiatives," said Professor Wooden.

"We are delighted to have been chosen to receive this generous grant. In this new millennium, it will enable us to be more effective in training women and men for the Church and for various Christian ministries around the world. In these changing times the Lilly Endowment will allow us to get in step with the technological advances that are already beginning to impact the Church, " said Dr. Lee McDonald, Principal of Acadia Divinity College.

"Improving the quality of theological school teaching is a central focus of the Endowment's grant making in religion. With this initiative, we expect theological schools to develop their capacities to use computer-based technologies to enhance teaching and learning," said Endowment Vice President for Religion, Craig Dykstra.

The Acadia University Development Office played a key role in helping develop the College's grant application. Acadia President, Dr. Kelvin Ogilvie expressed his pride in this important example of the cooperative interaction between the College and the University. Dr Ogilvie also noted that the Acadia Divinity College serves as the Faculty of Theology for Acadia and he is delighted that theology students will have the benefit of the internationally acclaimed Acadia Advantage Program.

The Endowment has awarded grants of $300,000 US to over 40 theological schools in Canada and the United States who have demonstrated an interest in incorporating information technology content into their curriculum. One of the largest foundations in the US, the Lilly Endowment was founded in 1937 and supports the courses of religion, education and community development.
 

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For more information, please contact:
Sheri Woodland
Communications Officer
Acadia University
Phone: (902) 585-1362

Delbert Bannister
Director of Development/Recruitment
Acadia Divinity College
Phone: (902) 585-2218
 

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Published by: The Office of Public Affairs Last revised: October 5,  2000 URL: http://www.acadiau.ca/whatsnew/newsrelease/2000/lillyendowmentrelease.htm