Union Presbyterian Seminary is welcoming a growing student body this fall as students begin a new academic year across its Richmond and Charlotte campuses.
“We’ve seen a 45% increase in new students this fall compared with last fall — and this is really our first snapshot of the year,” said Rev. Lisa McLennan, dean of students for Union Presbyterian Seminary. “Now that Union welcomes new students throughout the academic year, we’re excited that this incoming class is only the beginning of the students we’ll welcome this year.”
The growth comes as Union begins a new chapter in delivering theological education. Students in Charlotte continue in the Seminary’s weekend hybrid model, gathering on campus one Saturday each month, while Richmond students are beginning a weekday hybrid model built around four-day, in-person residencies paired with live and self-paced online coursework. The Seminary also continues its residential Community Scholars program in Richmond, including students from five countries.
“This incoming class is helping us live into something new. In a sense, some are pioneers—choosing a new model of theological education in Richmond that makes Union accessible in ways it hasn’t been before,” said Lisa McLennan, dean of students. “They give me hope because they are finding ways to say yes to God’s call while continuing to serve the communities where they are already rooted.”
McLennan has worked closely with prospective and incoming students throughout the enrollment process and now welcomes many of them into the Seminary’s academic and community life.
Students come to Union from thirteen states — including Florida, New Mexico, New York, and Texas — and five countries, bringing calls to ministry shaped by congregations and communities both near Union Presbyterian Seminary’s two campuses and far beyond. For some, the Seminary’s hybrid formats have made it possible to pursue theological education while remaining rooted in the places where they already live, work, and serve.
“I’m excited to welcome them into a beloved, Spirit-filled community that will nurture, support and care for them across the miles and in person,” said McLennan. ”They will carry from this place knowledge, experience and wisdom that will equip them to lead God’s people and help our communities love one another well.”
About Union Presbyterian Seminary
Union Presbyterian Seminary prepares people to be leaders of gospel-inspired transformative change in pursuit of a more just and compassionate world. With campuses in Richmond, Virginia, and Charlotte, North Carolina, the seminary has prepared leaders for ministry since 1812 through rigorous theological education that is scholarly, pastoral, and engaged with contemporary life. Offering a range of degree programs, Union is home to distinguished faculty, a historic campus with one of the nation’s finest theological libraries, and a vibrant community of worship, service, and fellowship. Graduates serve as pastors, educators, chaplains, mission workers, and scholars, carrying forward the seminary’s long tradition of equipping leaders for the church and the world. Learn more at upsem.edu. [upsem.edu]
