Designation Process

Designation of a new divinity program at an existing or new institution is initiated by Alberta Student Aid when a request for designation has been submitted by the student via the Designation Inquiry e-mail, by Alberta Student Aid’s loan service provider on behalf of the student, or submitted by the institution.

After a request for designation is received, Alberta Student Aid will contact the educational institution for information to conduct a review of the institution and/or its program for designation status. A new program and/or specialization will be assigned designation status provided the educational institution and the program and/or specialization meets the Alberta Divinity Institution and Program Designation Requirements.

Institution and Program Designation Requirements

To be designated for full-time provincial and federal student aid, a divinity program must meet the General Program Designation Requirements as well as the following requirements:

1. be offered at an institution that has signed and adhere to the Alberta Institution Divinity Program Designation Contract for Student Aid which will require the educational institution to comply with legislation, permit audits and to meet other requirements including to:
   1. insure its operations under a contract of General Liability Insurance, in accordance with the Insurance Act, in an amount not less than $2,000,000 insuring against bodily injury, personal injury, and property damage,
      
      
2. be offered by a fully accredited educational institution, or at least 60% of the program is accepted for credit by a fully accredited educational institution,
   
   In Canada and the United States of America (USA), the accrediting bodies are:
   
   - Association of Biblical Higher Education (ABHE)
   - Association of Theological Schools (ATS)
   - Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), 
   - Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools (AARTS), or
   - Association of Institutions of Jewish Studies (AIJS).
   
   Other international educational institutions must be accredited in the institution’s home country.
   
   
3. be post-secondary in nature and result in a certificate, diploma or degree credential,
   
   A degree credential that is academic in nature (as per the Programs of Study Regulation) is not eligible for divinity designation.
   
   
4. be a program of 12 weeks or more in length, and
   
   
5. if the Minister considers the employment of graduates to be relevant, the potential for employment of graduates of the program is acceptable to the Minister.

If a program is delivered online, additional designation requirements must be met.