After acquiring the land in 1973, a committee was established to carry out the repair works on the building which the church had bought at Tsh.55,000 and also constructed cottages for married students. After the completion of the repair work in 1974 the Seminary was moved from Ikizu to Arusha. The need to move the seminary arose from political disturbance experienced at Ikizu. Instruction began in 1975, with teachers like Dr. K. Hart, R. Lorenson and Mr. Stafford. AAS was merged with the Adventist School of Health Evangelism (ASHE), which by then situated at Heri Hospital in Kigoma School. In 1978, Tanzania Union of SDA appointed a committee chaired by Pr. E. Okeyo to prepare the process of upgrading AAS to college status. By October, a recommendation was reached and AAS became Tanzania Adventist Seminary and College (TASC) headed by Dr. Kisaka as the Principal. However, the seminary was closed down in 1995 and TASC was changed to Tanzania Adventist College (TAC).
Further development saw the launch of affiliation with Griggs University in United States of America (USA) during which time it offered Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Theology and Religion. In 1998, the affiliation arrangement was shifted to the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton (UEAB). According to the current programme portfolio the college offers four-degree courses, two diploma courses and three certificate courses. Currently, the college is in the height of its transformation, as has been awarded a letter of Interim Authority by the Higher Education Accreditation Council (HEAC) to process its upgrading into a full fledged University, the University of Arusha.
Review of Past Activities
Currently, TAC has been carrying a multi-sectoral programme largely categorised as educational, religious, recreational activities, income generation projects and non-Income generation projects.
Academics
The overall aim of this sector is to prepare students for life in the broad sense of completeness as human beings, rather than in the narrower sense of completeness in a particular discipline. This involves harmonious development of the physical, the social, the mental, and the spiritual powers for the joy of service in this world and in the world to come. To achieve this objective, the institute has programme portfolio that offers four-degree courses, three diploma courses and three certificate courses. Brief profiles of the departments¡¯ goals are present below.
Department of Theology; aimed at equipping students with theological and religious knowledge and skills that enable them to lead Christian ministries in the fulfilment of Christ¡¯s commission in the context of the SDA church. Major emphasis of the department is placed on training students to serve as pastors and teachers in the Christian church and community in the major elements of church life which are Worship, Nurturing, Fellowship and Mission.
Department of Secretarial Science; is based on the philosophy of true Christian education, which balances development of the physical, the mental, the social and the spiritual powers. The department therefore prepares and produces professional secretaries who can integrate spiritual values with secretarial principles consistently.
Department of Business Administration; believes that God has entrusted us with gifts such as talents, wealth, powers, and ability to think and to make reasonable decisions, which should be managed and used for His glory. The department aims to prepare competent and committed business people to contribute to the economic and social development of the society.
Department of Education; is devoted to prepare committed teachers who will continuously search for truth, guide and teach students in harmony with God¡¯s revelations to us through nature, human relations, experiences, talents, Scripture and plan of salvation. The department believes that true education tunes our thoughts, attitude, skills, knowledge, and culture to the understanding of God.
Besides the achievements of various departments the following constraints have been noted since the college was initiated. These include: -
Inadequate teaching-learning facilities
Inadequate finance
Inadequate basic necessities (water, housing etc)
As a result the various departments have realised a low student enrolment trend as is shown in figure 1.
Programmes Offered
Bachelor of Arts in Theology
Bachelor of Arts in Religion
Bachelor of Business Administration Management
Bachelor of Business Administration Accounting
Diploma in Education
Diploma in Secretarial Science
Computer Certificate Courses
Six-month Ministerial Certificate
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