DIBS Undergoes Major Restructuring

The Background

Disciples' Institute of Biblical Studies (DIBS) has been offering Biblical education courses for several years. Until recently each student's papers were carefully reviewed and critiqued. The study supervisor would answer questions, critique the paper, and comment on the students' statements in the papers, and seek to encourage the students in their studies.
 

The Problem

Several factors have come together to lead us to the decision that a change in this approach is needed.

1. Rapid expansion. During the few years of DIBS' existence, the number of students has expanded rapidly--more quickly than we have been able to add study supervisors (mentors). Consequently, we have been falling further and further behind in the work load. This, of course, leads to frustration for everyone involved.
      
2. Rejection of many applicants. In order to try to cope with the increased work load, we have rejected a very large number of applicants. This has caused great pain and disappointment not only to us, but also to the rejected applicants. I wish you could see some of the gracious letters of applicants who have been rejected as they have expressed their disappointment with not being accepted. Their hurt has been our hurt too.
      
3. Costly inefficiency. We spend most of our time on what produces the least value. We have asked some students to help evaluate the way we have interacted with them. They were asked, "How much value do you put on the corrections and comments we have put in your papers?" While they have said that it has helped some, they have indicated that it has only been a very minor source of the total benefit they have received from their studies. What they say is the most beneficial in their education with DIBS is their own study. Next to that has been the ability to ask questions and get answers and to dialog with their mentors. The least significant value has been from our critiquing of their papers. Although it is very difficult to quantify the amount of value each activity has produced, the following percentages seem to be close to the reality.

It is painfully clear that we have been spending most of our time doing what is least important and least valuable. And that excessive expenditure of time on what has the least value has kept us from keeping current with the students and giving them the attention they do need.
  

The Solution

We will no longer be correcting, critiquing, and commenting on the regular work of students. We will give far more attention to "scratching where it itches"--answering questions and dialoguing with students. Here is how this will affect you,the students.

1. Continue to send in your papers. However, send them in major sections of the course. For example, in Bible Survey, send in the notes for a whole book at a time (if it is a large book) or several books at a time (if they are small books). We will look at them to verify that you have done the work, but we will no longer be correcting, critiquing, and commenting on them, nor will we be sending them back to you. Major papers (such as those at the end of some courses) will continue to be carefully reviewed.
      
2. If you have a question, send that as a separate email with the subject line reading "Question--[course name]" (replacing the words "course name" with the actual name of the course). Please feel free to dialogue with us on any issue that relates to the course.
     
3. If for some reason you especially want a paper to be carefully reviewed, we will would be glad to consider doing that for you (assuming we have the time). Also, from time to time we might take the initiative to review one of your papers, especially if we see problems with it.

In Conclusion

We hope that this new procedure will not cause any of you any inconvenience. If it does, please tell us about it so that we can look for a solution. On the other hand, we expect that this new procedure will be a welcome change for many of you. It certainly will be for us.

5/10/1999