Strategic plan heralds exciting changes for ALC

Over the next five years, Australian Lutheran College will be an exciting place to be: the ALC Board of Directors has recently ratified a new strategic plan to enable ALC to expand its offerings and develop education programs that are responsive to the needs of the LCA.

Rev Tim Jaensch, chairperson of the ALC Board, told the 2009 LCA General Convention that the plan ‘envisages a significant increase in student numbers, possibly by as much as 500%’ and ‘will clarify the College’s core business’, which includes theological training of teachers for the Church’s schools and colleges.

This new strategic plan will ensure that ALC remains relevant to the LCA for the future, and that ALC is an outstanding resource for the mission and ministry of the LCA through the education and development of church workers of all kinds.

‘I’m pleased to be a part of ALC during this exciting time of change for this institution,’ said ALC Principal, Rev John Henderson.

‘Our overarching goal is to provide and facilitate Lutheran theologically-based educational services across all streams of post-secondary education, including high school vocational pathway programs,’ he said.

ALC will continue to offer accredited higher education awards to Australian and overseas students. To strengthen this offering it is investigating becoming a Recognised Teaching Institution of the Melbourne College of Divinity [MCD]. This would give ALC national accreditation as part of a consortium of Colleges, and access to additional programs.

Rev Henderson assured the Synod that the Church’s interests will be protected in any arrangement with the MCD. ALC will continue to teach confessional Lutheran theology, and governance structures and property ownership will remain firmly with the LCA.

A major part of the strategic plan is the inclusion of Vocational Educational Training, and an exciting partnership is being formed with Delta Ministries. Such training will provide professional development courses for church departments and workers, and everyone who wants to grow in the faith and practice.

Rev Jaensch explained that ALC’s new Continuing Education program, ‘will include accredited and non-accredited short courses, and professional development training for LCA workers, such as pastors, workers in aged care or youth work, teachers and aides and induction for non-Lutheran workers.

‘Just one example of the need for this is that there are over 1100 people working for Lutheran Community Care in Queensland alone, who could immediately benefit from having access to specialised courses from ALC,’ Rev Jaensch said.

The importance of student numbers was highlighted in a review of the College’s Higher Education Provider [HEP] status that enables students at ALC to claim FEE-HELP from the Australian Government to cover tuition costs. This system, which operates much like the old HECS system, carries significant administrative costs, and is a major undertaking for an institution of this size. However, Rev Jaensch explained that it is a worthwhile venture, as over 50% of ALC students utilise this service.

The Board has resolved to maintain the College’s HEP status and to keep a close watch on core business costs ‘with a view to continued stand-alone viability underpinned by increased student numbers’, said Rev Jaensch.

The final part of the strategic plan is to formalise a Centre for Research, Ethics and Theology, based ‘virtually’ at ALC, using current ALC staff, pastors, students and invited researchers, with a focus on such areas as: research papers, policy input, church engagement, governance, community and public relations, ethics and international outreach.

These strategies will be rolled out from 2009–2015, and will also aid in increasing student numbers and better awareness of ALC in the LCA.

See ALC Strategic Plan 2009-2015 [PDF]

Updated: 19/11/2009 [1.00]