Frequently Asked Questions

CTS Building Transition

Building Transition and the Lapp Learning Commons

Why is CTS leaving the building at 1407 E. 60th Street?

CTS and the University of Chicago have mutually agreed to conclude the long-term lease arrangement under which CTS has occupied the building at 1407 E. 60th Street since 2012. The building is owned by the University of Chicago, and both institutions determined that concluding the lease arrangement allows each institution to deploy its resources in ways that best support its mission and future priorities. This decision was reached through collaborative and respectful conversations between the leadership of both institutions.

What is changing with the building?

Effective September 1, 2026, the University of Chicago will resume full stewardship of the building at 1407 E. 60th Street. CTS will transition out of the space, while continuing to support currently enrolled students and carry out its educational mission.

Will the lease transition affect my courses or degree program?

No. CTS remains deeply committed to helping every currently enrolled student complete their degree. The Seminary will continue offering courses and academic support to help students make progress toward completing their degree requirements.

Will CTS continue offering courses?

Yes. CTS will continue offering courses for the upcoming academic year, prioritizing course scheduling and academic planning around the needs of currently enrolled students.

Will there still be in-person courses?

CTS instruction is primarily delivered online, a model the Seminary has used successfully for many years. Additional information about specific course offerings and modalities will be shared as those plans are finalized.

Will intensive and travel courses continue to be offered?

CTS recognizes the educational value of intensive and travel courses. Decisions regarding future offerings will be guided by academic requirements, student needs, faculty availability, and institutional resources. Additional information will be shared as those decisions are finalized.

Will faculty still be available to students?

Yes. Students will continue to have full access to faculty, advisors, and student support resources.

Will the quality of my education change because CTS is no longer located in a building?

No. CTS’s educational experience has been delivered primarily online for many years, with most students engaging with courses, faculty, and support services remotely rather than through the physical building. CTS remains committed to maintaining academic quality, student support, and faculty engagement throughout this transition.

Where will CTS be located after September 1, 2026?

Because CTS has delivered instruction and student support primarily online for many years, most day-to-day academic and administrative operations are not expected to change significantly for currently enrolled students. CTS is transitioning to a fully remote operating model for faculty and staff, with occasional in-person gatherings for events such as Board meetings. Email addresses and phone numbers for faculty and staff will remain unchanged.

What will happen to CTS events, lectures, and community programs?

CTS remains committed to fostering theological education, community engagement, and public programming. CTS has offered many of its events and lectures in online formats for several years, and this practice will continue. Information regarding regularly scheduled programs and other future events can be found on our website.

Will commencement still be held in person?

Yes. Commencement remains an in-person celebration and one of the most meaningful moments in the life of CTS. The Spring 2027 commencement ceremony will also be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.

What will happen to the artwork, archives, and historic collections?

CTS is proactively and carefully preserving its archives under the direction of the professional staff of the Lapp Learning Commons, including storing, evaluating, and digitizing materials as appropriate to ensure long-term accessibility. This includes appropriate storage of some institutional artifacts. Other artifacts have been donated to longstanding community partners where we are assured these materials are honored. CTS has earnestly endeavored to collaborate with original artists and community partners in this process.

Consistent with CTS’s long-standing commitment to sharing its historic legacy broadly, CTS is also identifying opportunities to make select historic items more widely accessible through partnerships with other institutions. CTS remains committed to the thoughtful stewardship of all of its historic and cultural assets.

Why can’t CTS share more details about its long-term plans right now?

CTS’s planning involves several ongoing strategic deliberations, including approvals from accrediting bodies and processes designed to ensure students’ wellbeing and support continued academic progress. Many of these processes involve the need for ongoing confidentiality. CTS is being deliberate about the timing and content of its communications, precisely because of its commitment to students and will share information as soon as it is confirmed and can be communicated responsibly.

The Lapp Learning Commons

Will I still have access to the Lapp Learning Commons and its electronic resources?

Yes. Currently enrolled students will continue to have full access to library databases, ebooks, electronic journals, course readings, and research support services, which CTS has delivered primarily online for many years. Access to these core research resources is not affected by the building transition.

What happens to the physical book collection after CTS vacates the building?

In consultation with CTS’s library consortia partners and best practices in library science, CTS will maintain an appropriately sized collection of its most frequently used and circulated volumes, housed in a storage facility in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. Lapp Learning Commons staff will retrieve physical books for currently enrolled students, as well as CTS faculty and staff, and ship them directly, as has previously been the case for remote and online learners.

In addition, CTS continues to participate in a large network of libraries that share materials, so students will continue to have access to physical resources throughout that network via interlibrary loan. The remaining volumes in CTS’s physical collection have been donated to Better World Books, a socially conscious bookseller that combines environmental sustainability with global literacy efforts.

Will I still be able to get research help and meet with a librarian?

Yes. The library staff remain available for research consultations, reference support, and writing assistance. You can reach Roger Morales, Director of the Lapp Learning Commons, at [email protected] or by scheduling an appointment at commons.ctschicago.edu. Live chat support is also available.

What happens to CTS’s Special Collections and Archives, including the Anton T. Boisen Collection, the G. Campbell Morgan Collection, and the CTS Institutional Archives?

The preservation and continued accessibility of CTS’s Special Collections and Archives—including the Anton T. Boisen Collection, the G. Campbell Morgan Collection, and the CTS Institutional Archives—is a priority. Consistent with CTS’s long-standing commitment to preserving and sharing its historic legacy, CTS is actively working to store, identify appropriate homes for, and arrange digital access to these materials, which represent 170 years of theological scholarship and institutional history. Updates will be shared as this work continues. The CTS Digital Commons remains accessible at ctschicago.ir.atla.com throughout this transition.

What happens to my thesis or dissertation held by CTS?

Theses and dissertations are indexed, and many are accessible through the CTS Digital Commons. CTS is committed to ensuring these works remain accessible and properly preserved through and beyond the building transition. Additional information will be shared as this work continues.

Alumni

Does the transition from the building affect gifts I have made to CTS?

No. The conclusion of CTS’s lease does not affect gifts made to CTS. CTS remains committed to honoring the intent of every gift to the institution, and gifts designated for specific programs, scholarships, or purposes will continue to be stewarded in accordance with those designations. If you have a specific question about a gift you have made, please contact Chad Schwickerath, Vice President for Advancement and Strategic Initiatives, at [email protected].

How can alumni stay connected and informed about CTS events, including CTS’s annual lecture series?

CTS remains committed to its public programming and lecture series and will continue to engage its alumni community through these offerings. Information about upcoming events can be found on our website. Alumni can be added to institutional mailing lists by contacting [email protected].

How can alumni continue to support CTS through this transition and beyond?

CTS is grateful for the generosity of our alumni and donors. As we navigate this period of institutional transition, your continued financial support allows us to focus on what matters most: our mission, our students, and our future. To make a gift or learn more about ways to support CTS, please visit our website or contact Chad Schwickerath, Vice President for Advancement and Strategic Initiatives, at [email protected].

Questions?

For questions about student services, contact your academic advisor or one of the following:

Deneen Collins, Director of Student Formation and Outreach
[email protected]

Jason Frey, Vice President of Student Services and Dean of Students
[email protected]

For library questions, contact

Roger Morales, Director of the Lapp Learning Commons
[email protected]

For questions about alumni engagement, events, or giving, contact

Chad Schwickerath, Vice President for Advancement and Strategic Initiatives
[email protected]