Union Presbyterian Seminary announced Tuesday it will shift to a hybrid learning format this fall, allowing students to complete graduate programs largely online with quarterly visits to campus.

The change marks a significant departure for the Richmond campus, which has required students to attend classes in person since its founding in 1812. 

Starting in September, students will take courses online and come to campus for four days each term. The model mirrors one the seminary’s Charlotte, North Carolina, campus has used for several years. 

President Jacqueline E. Lapsley said the shift addresses the realities facing seminary students today. 

“We know many students balance ministry, work, family and community commitments,” Lapsley said. The hybrid format “allows students to remain rooted in their communities while fully engaging in theological education.” 

The seminary enrolls about 200 students across both campuses and multiple Christian denominations. Degree programs include a three-year Master of Divinity and two-year master’s degrees in Christian Education and Public Theology. 

The school will continue offering on-campus housing through a new Community Scholars program for students seeking what it calls an “intentional Christian community” with shared meals and worship. 

The Richmond campus also houses the William Smith Morton Library, one of the largest theological libraries on the East Coast, with rare books dating to 1470.