Tim Ziebarth: Director of Department of Online Education; Part-time Instructor, GOAL and Business

The Department of Online Education at Grace College is blazing new paths in the realm of online education this year. This March, Director of Online Education Tim Ziebarth and his team of collaborators achieved an astounding 100 percent on an online quality review of Grace’s Principles of Management class. This occurred only two months after receiving a top-quality “5” rating (scoring 90 percent or more) on a quality review hosted through Learning House, Grace’s online education solutions partner.

To determine the quality of course design, The Learning House uses a five-level scale with intricate standards of quality that each online class must meet in more than 40 distinct areas. This is the first time a school has ever achieved a 100 percent rating, making Grace College an unmistakable leader in offering quality online education.

“We’ve put a lot of time and effort to get to this point, but having a course that meets all of the quality standards is wonderful for Grace College,” explained Tim Ziebarth. “We want to keep improving in every single one of our online classes, one class at a time.”

“It is clear that Professor Ziebarth believes strongly in using identified best practices in online education to provide for a better student experience,” said Josh Smith, Director of Partner Curriculum at Learning House. “He collaborates weekly (if not daily) with our Course Designers to continuously improve his online courses in order to increase student learning. It is this dedication and passion for excellence that enabled him to achieve the first 100% on our course Quality Review Form.”

Brittney Picket, Enrollment Counselor

Grace College recently hired a new enrollment counselor for the Department of Online Education. Brittney Pickett, 2010 graduate of Franklin College, will be assisting in the growth of the department and serving as the go-to person for potential students interested in the online programs.

The Department of Online Education exists to equip each student with the competency and skills to excel in his or her chosen career field.  Pickett will be joining Tim Ziebarth, director, and Laura Laborde, service specialist, in the Department of Online Education, a comprehensive office that exists to serve and assist students from initial interest to graduation and everything in between.  They currently offer several online programs, including a degree completion B.S. in Management (GOAL), Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Master of Arts in Ministry Studies, Master of Business Administration, and Master of Education. Starting fall 2014, two new programs will be offered, a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management and Master of Science in Higher Education.

Brittney has worked in highly relational roles in the past, from fundraiser and art director (now volunteering) at the Boys and Girls Club of Nappanee to rehabilitation coordinator at the Bowen Center in Warsaw. During college she traveled to Africa as part of a service learning trip and returned there after college to work with Invisible Children, Beads for Life, and Building Tomorrow. Brittney and her husband Tanner live in Goshen and attend Nappanee Missionary Church. Brittney enjoys spending time with her three dogs, hiking, and anything to do with being outside. She is excited about her new job and about joining the Grace community.

Senator Jim Banks reads the resolution honoring Grace College and Seminary’s 75th year anniversary with representatives from Grace standing by.

On March 12, 2013, several representatives from Grace College met in Indianapolis to witness the reading of a resolution honoring Grace College and Seminary’s 75th year anniversary.  Dr. Ronald Manahan, President of Grace and Dr. Bill Katip, Provost, attended the event to hear the resolution read before the Indiana State Senate on the chamber floor.

The resolution, read by Senator Jim banks, noted the history of Grace College and Seminary as well as several of Grace’s outstanding achievements. The resolution also highlighted Grace’s recent implementation of more affordable education options for students.

Other Grace representatives at the event were Brian Ramsey, Site Director of Weber Indianapolis; Tom Dunn, Chief Operations Officer at Grace; Jennifer Anderson, Student Services Coordinator at Weber Indianapolis; Dr. George Slaughter, Professor of Psychology at Grace; Dr. Jared Burkholder, Assistant Professor of American and World History, and several students from Grace’s main campus in Winona Lake and Grace College Indianapolis.

“It was really exciting to see Grace College represented on the Senate chamber floor,” said Dr. Manahan. “When someone like Senator Jim Banks notices our achievements as a college and decides to present a resolution about it, then it recognizes the work and innovation we’ve put in.”

Also in attendance was Senator Ryan Mishler, long-time partner with Grace College and Seminary and representative of the 9^th District Senate (Grace’s district), who spoke on behalf of the college on the senate floor.

Senator Banks was born and raised in Columbia City and South Whitley and received his B.A. in Political Science from Indiana University in Bloomington. He is currently pursuing his MBA from Grace College’s online program.

On March 12, 2013, Senator Jim Banks will be presenting a resolution to the Indiana State Senate honoring Grace College and Seminary’s 75th year anniversary and achievements as an institution. The resolution will be read before the Indiana State Senate in Indianapolis, and representatives from Grace will have the privilege to attend the event at the capitol.

The resolution notes the history of Grace College and Seminary, as well as several of Grace’s achievements such as graduates of Grace’s accounting program receiving a ranking of 10th out of 793 institutions nationwide for the first-time pass rate on the Certified Public Accountant exam in 2012.

The resolution also highlights Grace’s recent implementation of more affordable education options for students. One of these options reduces cost by 25 percent through one of the nation’s first successful three-year accelerated degree programs. Another program being recognized is a $7,800 per year associate degree program for city youth now available in Fort Wayne and Indianapolis.

“We are honored that Grace College and Seminary’s 75th Anniversary will be recognized before the Indiana State Senate,” said Dr. Ronald Manahan, president of Grace College and Seminary. “I think it acknowledges the passion and hard work we have invested to give our students quality, affordable options for their education. We are excited to continue innovating and addressing students’ needs.”

As Grace College quickly becomes one of the quality providers in online education, some notable achievements are emerging. Tim Ziebarth, Director of Online Education, along with a team of collaborators, achieved a “5″ rating on a quality review of their online Principles of Management course hosted through Learning House, Grace’s online education solutions partner. The Management class is one of very few nationwide in the Learning House network that has achieved this rating.

The quality review makes use of a 5-level scale with intricate standards of quality that each online class must meet in 40-plus distinct areas. To achieve a score of 5, classes must score a 90% or higher in meeting the standards.

“We are raising the quality of our online classes. This is just one class, but now we have a course that models the best practices in online education,” explained Ziebarth. “Our next goal is to have the first class that scores a 100%.”

“The time, effort, quality, variety, and content that Tim includes in his courses achieve a high level of student outcomes,” said Carrie Yocum, Associate Provost of Grace College. “Tim leads our online department and has been an example to other instructors in the development and teaching of online courses and use of resources to make it a good learning experience for students.”

“The level five rating is a terrific example of the hard work and dedication of Tim and the Grace faculty as well,” said Derek Jones, Grace’s account manager at Learning House. “Quality was one of the first things Tim has stressed to us in our partnership and I think the fact that Grace College is leading the way is an example of their dedication to their students.”

Grace College and Seminary kicks off its fall 2012 semester and 75^th anniversary celebration with a record-breaking enrollment of 1,821 students thanks to nationally recognized program innovation and new academic offerings.

The record enrollment, propelled by 407 new students this fall, results from Grace College’s innovative, market-driven responses to a rapidly changing higher educational landscape increasingly shaped by concerns about college affordability and accessibility.

Recognizing that rising college costs are a significant burden and growing barrier to students, in 2011, Grace College launched an innovative three-year accelerated degree program for all 60 majors, allowing students to graduate sooner, save a year’s tuition and enter the workforce a year earlier.  The program also allows students to benefit from free online summer courses.  National statistics indicate the average undergraduate spends five years completing a bachelor’s degree.

Grace College is one of the few public or private universities nationally – to offer a three-year degree program across its curriculum.  Grace’s program innovation has attracted the attention of Congress, state legislators and national media.

At a time when parents and students increasingly consider quality and affordability in their consideration of educational options, forty-nine percent of entering freshmen this year indicated an intent to pursue the three-year degree option.  In 2011, forty-eight percent of entering freshmen identified Grace’s three-year degree program as a significant factor in their college selection decision.

New online graduate and adult programs, along with the launch of additional educational sites in Fort Wayne and Indianapolis, also contributed to Grace College’s significant enrollment growth.

A remarkable 85 percent retention rate of students from their freshman to sophomore year also has positively impacted student enrollment at Grace College. This figure considerably exceeds the 70 percent national average for schools similar to Grace.  Grace officials attribute the impressive retention rates to Grace’s three-year degree program and the stellar student support services offered.

“Grace College is committed to continued program innovation and educational leadership to keep a high quality, faith-based education accessible and affordable for all families,” said Grace College Provost Dr. William Katip.  “We are pleased to see the increased number of students, including those attending our new sites in Fort Wayne and Indianapolis, who are directly benefiting from our aggressive attempts to adapt educational models and address escalating costs to better serve savvy educational consumers seeking better higher educational options.”

Grace College and Seminary is an evangelical Christian community of higher education that applies biblical values in strengthening character, sharpening competence and preparing for service. Grace College offers traditional undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as flexible online and hybrid-online graduate degrees, on-campus and online degree completion programs, and a highly affordable, easily accessible two-year degree program in Fort Wayne and Indianapolis. U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review have regularly named Grace as one of America’s Best Colleges and a “Best Midwestern College” respectively. The 180-acre main campus is located in the historic resort town of Winona Lake, near Warsaw, Indiana.

The Department of Online Education and the Department of Online Graduate Counseling was privileged to welcome 28 graduate counseling students to beautiful Winona Lake, Indiana, during their in-residence portion of the online Clinical Mental Health Counseling program.   The students arrived on campus for orientation on Sunday, August 19^th, followed by a dinner reception.  Classes began on August 20^th and ended on the 24^th. The program director, Dr. Chris Hull, along with Dr. Jenny Preffer and Dr. Rhonda Ladd guided the students through an intense week of understanding the relationship of theology and prayer in counseling.  Much of the week was also spent learning and practicing foundational counseling skills that prepare students for their ongoing practice throughout the program and into their careers.

While the time on campus is intense, the counseling faculty value the importance of connecting outside of the classroom. Dr. Hull took advantage of beautiful Winona Lake (within walking distance of campus) and arranged an afternoon of canoeing and kayaking, a perfect break for the students, faculty and staff.

View photos of the week.

The first cohort of MBA students who earned their degree through Grace’s new online degree program graduated on May 19 along with other students at the Orthopedic Capital Center in Winona Lake, Ind. Tim Ziebarth, Director of the Department of Online Education stated, “I hope that this group of graduates will be the first of many to see the tangible benefits of alternate degree-earning options that the school now offers.”

The online Masters of Business Administration degree program was initiated with the intention to create a program that would allow students to study business professionally and from a biblical perspective while simultaneously maintaining their careers. Non-traditional, non-residential students who are interested in studying for the online MBA must have already attained their bachelor’s degree. The degree includes an integrative project in which students must use their new skill set to do problem solving in an application-based setting.

Grace is proud to offer degrees to qualified individuals who, according to Department of Online Education, have put hard work into the process and who have been rewarded with a professional, value-based experience.

Grace College and Seminary is an evangelical Christian community of higher education which offers undergraduate and graduate degrees and applies biblical values in strengthening character, sharpening competence, and preparing for service. The Seminary is conservative, evangelical, and has a rich tradition of sound biblical education that prepares men and women for both local and global church ministry. All of the institution’s academic, residential, athletic, and social priorities are designed to encourage intellectual and spiritual growth in a supportive campus community. Grace College also offers convenient and flexible online and hybrid-online graduate degrees and an on-campus or online degree completion program. The newest initiative—Grace College Weber School—is a highly-affordable, easily-accessible two-year degree program in Fort Wayne and Indianapolis. Grace has historically been among the top schools of its size and listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s Best Colleges. The Princeton Review has regularly awarded it the title of a “Best Midwestern College.”  The 180-acre main campus is located in the historic resort town of Winona Lake, near Warsaw, Indiana.

On November 15, Grace College, located in Winona Lake, Indiana and Ancilla College, located in Donaldson, Indiana, signed an Articulation Agreement to allow Ancilla graduates to continue their education in Grace’s GOAL (Grace Opportunities for Adult Learners) degree completion program.  The Ancilla graduates can enroll in the GOAL program and earn a B.S. in Management through Grace College.

Dr. Ronald L. May, President of Ancilla College and Dr. Ronald E. Manahan, President of Grace College & Theological Seminary performed the signing that was held in the Orthopaedic Capital Center on the Grace College Campus at 4:00 p.m.

The articulation agreement provides opportunities for Ancilla College graduates to complete their B.S. in Management through Grace College’s GOAL program.  The GOAL program is an excellent opportunity for Ancilla graduates by offering the flexibility of an entirely online program or the traditional educational format of a physical campus, depending on the student’s individual needs and preferences.  Both options use a cohort model, allowing students to be a part of a community of learners.

Grace Director of Online Education, Tim Ziebarth, is excited about the articulation and the opportunities it provides to new students.  “The Grace/Ancilla collaboration is representative of the shift in Indiana Institutions of Higher Education towards partnerships.  Five to ten years ago, students did not see these types of agreements between colleges.  We’re making headway in the right direction in providing student-centered solutions to educational needs.”

Founded in 1937 by the Catholic religious congregation of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, Ancilla College is a two-year liberal arts college located on an idyllic campus in Donaldson, Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and is chartered to grant the Associate of Arts Degree (AA), the Associate of Science Degree (AS), the Associate of Science in Nursing Degree (ASN), and the Associate of Liberal Studies Degree (ALS).

Grace College is an evangelical Christian community of higher education that applies biblical values in strengthening character, sharpening competence, and preparing for service. The academic, residential, athletic, and social aspects of the college are designed to encourage intellectual and spiritual growth in a supportive campus community. The 180-acre campus is located in the historic resort town of Winona Lake, near Warsaw, Ind. It has historically been among the top schools of its size and listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s Best Colleges. The Princeton Review has regularly awarded it the title of a “Best Midwestern College.”

Grace College is pleased to announce its partnership with Christian University GlobalNet (CUGN) to offer an online Master of Arts degree.  The Master of Arts in Ministry Studies (MAMS) degree builds on courses completed by students through CUGN.

This new partnership is an exciting opportunity for students who desire to expand their Biblical education but lack the time or physical proximity to an educational institution in order to do so.  Grace College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and the fact that the MAMS degree is online makes it both effective and convenient.

The program is broken into three steps – students complete Cores 1 and 2 with CUGN, and then take an additional 18 credits through Grace, with classes taught by Grace College & Seminary faculty.  Students who complete all three steps will receive a Master of Arts in Ministry Studies from Grace College.  The cohort models used by both CUGN and Grace allow students to build relationships, engage in discussions, and learn collaboratively while enjoying the convenience of an entirely online program.

Dr. Jeffrey A. Gill, Dean of the School of Ministry Studies at Grace College, is enthusiastic about the partnership.  “This opportunity allows us to open the door for people from around the world to obtain a master’s degree.  The partnership is mutually beneficial for Grace and CUGN in that through Grace, CUGN students are now able to obtain an accredited master’s degree, and that through CUGN, Grace becomes known to a global student base,” said Gill.

Grace College & Seminary President Ronald E. Manahan shares Gill’s enthusiasm for the project and is especially pleased with the direction online education is taking. “The future of higher education is in collaborative partnerships between institutions that have unified missions.  This partnership allows us to leverage Grace’s legacy of academics with CUGN’s legacy of resources.   I believe partnerships like this are the future, and it’s consistent with Grace’s commitment to innovation in education.”

Christian University GlobalNet is a Colorado-based university offering Bible, Christian life, and theology courses totally online. The graduate-level courses are taught by scholars from various seminaries (such as Dallas Theological Seminary, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary), who have been selected by peers as among the best lecturers in their fields of study. Christian University GlobalNet is the academic division of ChristianCourses.com, affiliated with RBC Ministries family, publishers of Our Daily Bread.

Grace College is an evangelical Christian community of higher education which applies biblical values in strengthening character, sharpening competence, and preparing for service. The academic, residential, athletic, and social aspects of the college are designed to encourage intellectual and spiritual growth in a supportive campus community. The 180-acre campus is located in the historic resort town of Winona Lake, near Warsaw, Ind. It has historically been among the top schools of its size and listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s Best Colleges. The Princeton Review has regularly awarded it the title of a “Best Midwestern College.”