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Kino Institute assured of
re-accreditation
By Andrew Junker, The Catholic Sun
October 4, 2007
The U.S. bishops’ commission on certification and accreditation will recommend the Kino Institute for re-accreditation.
The good news came more than a year after Kino began a self-study report to prepare for a program review by members of the commission.
The Kino Institute, founded in 1972, is a program for theological studies and pastoral ministry formation for the Diocese of Phoenix. It instructs candidates for the diaconate as well as lay catechists, youth ministers, liturgists and others.
Three years ago, the institute began organizing students into cohorts, groups of about 30 who take all their classes together over a two-year period.
“The institute was modeled so differently when we received our first accreditation” seven years ago, Kino director Barry Sargent said. “The program was vastly different.”
The self-study allowed the institute to take a “self portrait” to see how well the program integrates theological, pastoral, human and spiritual elements.
“It’s really a great process,” Sargent said. “I would say one of the most important things about the process is we’ve all taken ownership. We look at our program together and we buy into this vision together.”
After the institute completed the self-study, a three-member review team from the certification and accreditation commission visited Phoenix Sept. 19-21 to investigate the program onsite.
“We start the report by telling you the good news. There are no notations given to the program. So that’s always the big thing to know and get out of the way,” said Maureen O’Brien, chairwoman of the review committee, during the Sept. 21 exit report.
A notation would mean that the reviewers could not recommend the institute for re-accreditation.
O’Brien then read a list of findings by the review team categorized into commendations, strengths, challenges and recommendations.
A few of the commendations included well-developed theological and pastoral courses, excellent classroom environments and a well-stocked and organized library. O’Brien commended the institute’s instructors for always encouraging participants of the program.
Some of the challenges included a need for in-service opportunities for the faculty and a greater focus on celebrating cultural diversity.
“I think that they really want us to take seriously the diverse culture that we’re ministering to at the parishes. It’s more than just giving lip service,” Sargent said.
“It’s really to discover models that someone in a parish leadership position knows how to integrate to be inclusive, to be welcoming, to really look who’s there and how we can benefit and grow from diversity rather than just acknowledge it,” he said. “It’s a challenge.”
Sargent must now write a report acknowledging the findings of the review team and stating his agreement to their recommendations. He also has to develop a timeline to move forward on their suggestions.
Then, he will send his report to the commission where they will grant a reaffirmation of the program’s accreditation.
“We have a great deal of our work done,” said Sr. Kay Sheskaitis, IHM, a member of the review team. “But we have a little bit more to do.”
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