Relationships With Other Institutions
Auburn Theological Seminary
Union Theological Seminary and Auburn Theological Seminary enjoy a unique cooperative relationship. Each institution remains autonomous while depending on the other in significant ways.
Auburn Theological Seminary, one of the country's oldest seminaries, was located for over 120 years at Auburn, New York. Like Union, it was a progressive, “new school” institution. It had a special commitment to the Presbyterian churches of New York State, from which many of its students were drawn and to which many returned to serve. In 1939, Auburn moved to New York City and became associated with Union Theological Seminary where, in 1950, Auburn Hall was erected in the Union quadrangle with Auburn funds. Over the years, Auburn funds have supported several professorships at Union.
Auburn maintains the Seminary's historic relationship with The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the presbyteries of New York State. These presbyteries, to which Auburn has been related throughout its history, continue to elect a majority of the members of its Board of Directors .Auburn is also related by covenant agreement to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Auburn Seminary no longer matriculates students. It does, however, take special responsibility for Presbyterian students on the Union campus: Presbyterian students in the first-degree programs at Union may receive financial aid from Auburn funds through application made to Union's Financial Aid Office. Auburn also provides workshops and counseling to help Presbyterian students meet denominational requirements for ordination, and serves as a gathering point for Union's Presbyterian community. Since 1956, Auburn's primary interest has been continuing education. Its programs provide serious and sustained study opportunities for clergy and laity, many of which are ecumenical or multifaith. Some of these programs are offered on the Union/Auburn campus; others are developed in local church settings. Auburn and Union conduct the New York City based programs of continuing education on a joint basis, with Auburn serving as the administrative center for the programs.
In 1991 Auburn established the Center for the Study of Theological Education to foster research on current issues of theological education. Recently completed studies focus on seminary finances, student debt, theological faculties, and the culture of theological schools. The Center carries out in-depth studies of major issues in theological education to assist leaders in theological schools, denominations, and other settings as they make critical decisions about training future religious leadership. The Auburn Center serves Roman Catholic, evangelical and mainline Protestant, and Jewish constituencies. The Auburn Center organizes its research under three guiding themes: Practices of Teaching and Learning; Assessing Institutional Resources; and Theological Education in Religious and Public Life. For more information, visit Auburn's website.
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Columbia University
The Seminary and Columbia University established a formal reciprocal educational relationship in 1928 following an informal relationship dating from the nineteenth century. While the Seminary is financially and administratively independent and has its own board of directors, its president or faculty representative has a seat in the University Senate, and some members of the Seminary faculty are adjunct professors in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
Programs leading to the M.A. and Ph.D. in Religion are offered under the Committee on Graduate Instruction of the Department of Religion of Columbia University, a body composed of representatives of the University and the Seminary. The courses are selected from both the University and the Seminary curricula; the degrees are conferred by the University upon recommendation of the Committee on Graduate Instruction.
The Seminary also cooperates with the Columbia University School of Social Work in a program leading to the simultaneous conferral of two degrees, the M.Div. from the Seminary and the degree of Master of Science in Social Work from the University.
Union students who are not matriculated in these cooperative programs may also take graduate courses in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at the University as part of their studies at the Seminary, as long as permission is granted by the dean of academic administration. Students in the graduate and professional faculties of the University may register at Columbia for Seminary courses. There are reciprocal library privileges for all students in the two institutions. The physical fitness center at Columbia is open to seminarians for a semester-based fee. For more information, visit Columbia's website.
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Teachers College
Union students may also take graduate courses at Teachers College as part of their studies at the Seminary, with the permission of the dean of academic administration. For more information, visit Teacher College's website.
General Theological Seminary
A cooperative arrangement for cross- registration between Union Seminary and the General Theological Seminary allows students to take elective courses at either seminary by registering at their own school. For more information, visit General Theological Seminary's website.
New York Theological Seminary
A cooperative arrangement for cross-registration between Union Seminary and the New York Theological Seminary permits students to take selected elective courses at either school by registering at their own seminary. For more information, visit New York Theological Seminary's website.
The Jewish Theological Seminary
In order to further cooperative studies in the Bible and related fields, a special longstanding relationship between Union Seminary and the Rabbinical School of The Jewish Theological Seminary permits students from either seminary to elect courses offered at the other. Those interested should check with their registrar about permission to cross- register. For more information, visit The Jewish Theological Seminary's website.
City University of New York, The Graduate School and University Center
A collaborative arrangement between the Seminary and the Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York permits a limited number of qualified students from the Seminary to enroll in courses offered at the CUNY Graduate School and University Center at 33 West 42nd Street without incurring additional tuition charges. Students of the Graduate School and University Center, when given the permission of their advisers, may likewise take courses at the Seminary. Union students must obtain permission to enroll in CUNY courses, first from the instructor of the course, and then from the dean of academic administration. Forms for this purpose are available in the Registrar's Office. For more information, visit the CUNY website.
Fordham University
A cooperative arrangement for cross- registration exists between Union and the Theology Department of Fordham University's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Students who are degree candidates in either institution may, after obtaining necessary approvals, enroll in courses offered at the other school by registering at their own school. Fees for the courses are payable to the student's home school in the regular tuition charges. For more information, visit the Fordham University website.
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