If you are wondering why we aren’t just enrolling learners now when there is such a clear and apparent need across our schools, it is because our programs must be recognized by our accrediting body and state licensing board before we can engage with learners. Only graduates of accredited programs are eligible for the professional licensure pathway we can offer through MLC. If you are interested in participating in this program, please check back here to find out when we have submitted the required materials to HLC and for updates on the status of our review.

• Summer 2024

  • Applications to participate in the first CBTE cohort opened.
  • APPLE Elementary Education will be submitted to HLC for the final required approval by July 8, 2024. This final approval step can take up to eight months.
  • Online, Asynchronous Orientation will be offered for the first CBTE cohort.

•Spring 2024

  • The Nontraditional Education team, along with the CBE Advisory Board, began the process of formalizing the policy manual that will guide program delivery.
  • The competencies for CBTE have been crafted by the MLC theology faculty and the Instructional Designer. The process of building courses in Brightspace (the LMS, sometimes referred to as Desire 2 Learn or D2L for short) has begun, and course instructors for the CBTE program are being identified.
  • The Director and Instructional Designer completed training in Brightspace for administration and instruction.
  • MLC received notification on May 3 that our CBTE program has been approved by the HLC.
  • MLC received notication on May 20 that the Minnesota Office of Higher Education approved APPLE Elementary Education for inclusion in our program offerings.

• Fall 2023

  • The director guided all curriculum materials through our internal Curriculum Oversight Committee.
  • Program development began with the creation of two supporting emphases: a Competency-Based Theology Education (CBTE) minor designed to meet all ministerial education requirements, and an academic program focused on the licensure and degree requirements–the Alternate Pathway to Professional Licensure in Education in elementary education (APPLE El Ed).
  • The designer worked with faculty to craft the competencies for the theology minor program based on the existing required course content.
  • In September 2023, representatives from MLC met with PELSB to discuss the proposed APPLE Elementary Education program. The review determined that the curriculum aligns with the approved MLC Elementary Education program. As long as our required courses and assessments are the same — just offered in different modalities — the APPLE El Ed Program is considered a part of our approved teacher preparatory program for Elementary Education, including all endorsements.
  • With the inclusion of APPLE El Ed in our list of approved teacher preparation programming, we drafted and submitted our request to offer APPLE El Ed as a competency-based, online education undergraduate degree program to the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.
  • We submitted all materials for the Higher-Learning Commission review of the CBTE minor in December. The review of our application may take up to six months.

The director focused on framing the Nontraditional Education Program by

  • Distributing a needs analysis to principals and pastors across the synod.
  • Analyzing data collected through the needs analysis.
  • Assuring compliance with our accrediting bodies, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing Board (PELSB).
  • Identifying a path forward to develop a competency-based program for Christian educators.
  • Reviewing internal policies and practices to support learners in this program.
  • Building communication resources, including this webpage, about this new program.

• Summer 2023

In addition to administrative progress, a new emphasis was placed on instructional design.

  • The instructional designer joined us in July and began the process of testing and vetting software tools designed to implement a competency-based education program. As a result of this process, Desire 2 Learn by Brightspace was adopted as the program platform.
  • The director began the process of drafting new and program-specific policies for discussion at plenary faculty meetings in fall 2023 and worked with departments across campus to craft specific practices and procedures to support learners in this program.
  • The director began to establish and maintain contact with interested survey respondents with an update on our progress and resources to support their continued learning.

• Spring 2023

  • The director focused on framing the Nontraditional Education Program by
    • Distributing a needs analysis to principals and pastors across the synod.
    • Analyzing data collected through the needs analysis.
    • Assuring compliance with our accrediting bodies, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing Board (PELSB).
    • Identifying a path forward to develop a competency-based program for Christian educators.
    • Reviewing internal policies and practices to support learners in this program.
    • Building communication resources, including this webpage, about this new program.

• Fall 2022

  • Based on the recommendation of the findings of the committee’s research, MLC sought nominations and called two individuals to serve as the director and instructional designer for the Nontraditional Education Program.
  • Dr. Nichole LaGrow accepted the call to be Director and Dr. Martin LaGrow accepted the call to be Instructional Designer of the Non-Traditional Education Program.

• 2017

  • MLC convened the Competency-Based Education Committee to research solutions for the growing need for called workers.

If you would like to receive updates on our program, please complete the Interest Survey.