Biola To Phase Out BOLD, MOL Programs
Starting this spring, Biola University will begin a three-year phase-out of two academic programs geared to the working adult learner: the BOLD degree completion program and Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership (MOL) program.
The decision, announced Jan. 22, follows several years of declining enrollment in these programs. Although academic quality and student satisfaction levels have remained strong, university leaders determined that the programs did not have long-term viability in their current operating model. It is not unusual in higher education to make decisions to add and discontinue degree programs based on internal and external factors.
In coming months, BOLD and MOL — housed in the university's School of Professional Studies (SPS) — will enter a “teach out” phase that will be completed by June 2013, giving students who have already started the programs an opportunity to finish their degree from Biola University. While new incoming students will be able to start the MOL program this spring, no new students will be admitted to the BOLD program.
As part of the decision, the other three programs in SPS — the Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics, the Master of Arts in Science and Religion and the English Language Studies Program (ELSP) — will be redistributed to other schools within the university's structure, resulting in the discontinuation of SPS. The apologetics and science and religion programs will move to the School of Arts and Sciences, while ELSP will move to the Cook School of Intercultural Studies.
Biola's president, Barry H. Corey, said the decision was difficult on many levels. At the same time, the consolidation of the School of Professional Studies into the breadth of the University will enable the university to be more prepared for new models of education and will provide Biola the opportunity to strategize across all of its schools in the areas of distance learning and adult education.
“We remain committed to fulfilling the mission of Biola University in non-traditional ways across all of our schools in those select programs where we are most positioned to do so”, Corey said.
A list of anticipated questions has been prepared to provide further information about the changes to the School of Professional Studies. Students, alumni, employees and other members of the Biola community are invited to direct feedback and additional questions to (562) 777-4054 or sps dot info at academics dot biola dot edu.