It’s time for me to alter my running schedule.  You see, the day after Labor Day is the historic start of the new school year in my community and my morning run takes me by an elementary school. . . . And, during the school year I try to avoid the buses and relative large amount of traffic around the school so it is either an earlier run before the children start arriving or a later run when the children are settled in their classrooms.

Since it is back to school day in my community I decided it is maybe a good time to look at the state of education in the world of Mortuary Science.  A lot has changed in that realm since I attended the University of Minnesota (Go Gophers!!) back in the late 1970’s and graduated from the School of Mortuary Science there in 1980.

In my college days there was no online learning and if I wanted a mortuary degree I needed to attend in person.  According to these statistics from Best Colleges, in 2022 54% of college students took at least one online class in that year and 26% of college students took college classes exclusively online during that year.

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

A lot has changed in college systems and the way students manuever through them in the 40 plus years since I received my degree.  Today there is all kinds of options, price points, and opportunities for students to create their own paths to the degree of their choice and getting licensure in the mortuary profession is no different in that regard.  Students of today can find a path to educational success in the mortuary field without having to move out of their home community to do so.

According to the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE) there are 58 post-high school programs accreditated with that organization.  For information on them and a listing of them you can click here.  43 of the 58 programs offer some form of “Distance Learning” in receiving their mortuary education.  For a listing of those schools that offer over 50% of the educational requirements online  click here.

For each of those 58 accredited programs you can also find an information sheet, at that website, similar to this one for my alma mater, the University of Minnesota.  You might be interested to look at your alma mater and take a look on the direction of enrollment and passage rate of the national exam.

More Mortuary Education related information:

• Congrats to the Class of 2025 — This episode of the NFDA sponsored podcast “A Brush with Death” features four graduates of the Class of 2025 and their thoughts and ambitions as they move into the employment of Death Care.

• “My Future” occupational website — Data on the future trends in employment, compensation, and requirements of those interested in the Mortician, Undertaker, and Funeral Arranger fields.

• San Antonio College Mortuary website—  San Antonio College in Texas is one of a very few mortuary education institutes that operates a going-concern mortuary as part of their college experience.

• The Funeral Service Foundation — This is the NFDA’s charitable arm and if you know of someone interested in a Funeral Service Education it is one of the first places to look for scholarship opportunities.

More news from the world of Death Care:

Enter your e-mail below to join the 3,199 others who receive Funeral Director Daily articles daily

“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”

In the past month part of my thoughts have been at the intersection of “Education and Grief”.  And, it has brought me to a way of thinking that maybe the two thoughts need to go together.

You see, during my time as a Board Member of the University of Minnesota I worked to try to get a student-led initiative about having a class on “Financial Literacy” become part of the base, required core of curriculum courses that every student needed to graduate.  It came from a foundation in which students told me, and I’m paraphrasing here, “The University does a great job preparing us to go out in the world and make a great living, but nobody tells us how to manage the income that we earn”.

I came to the conclusion that if we taught students about taxes, interest, mortgages, automobile payments, savings plans, and more we would have a society not only where citizens were more apt to make wise financial decisions but people would be much more aware of how the votes they cast in elections affect their purchasing power and financial future.

I recently made a call to the Provost (the position in charge of the academic side of the college) who was in her last week on the job.  I had helped hire her and got to know her when I was the Chair of the (Academic) Mission Committee for two years.  I had asked her how Financial Literacy had fared in the new curriculum proposals and she let me know that the entire proposal had been voted down by faculty. . . . So, my Financial Literacy ideas for students were back to square zero.

On to grief. . . . As many of you might know, in roughly the last month the past Speaker of the House in Minnesota, Rep. Melissa Hortman, was assasinated.  I can’t say I was a friend of the Speaker or that I even knew her well.  However, University of Minnesota Board Members are selected by the legislature and getting known by them helps one’s chances for success.

I remember encountering Rep. Hortman in a stairwell at the State Office Building.  I wanted to get an appointment with her to push my candidacy and she said something like the following to me, “No need, I’ve read your bio and heard from others. . . I’ll be voting for you”. . . and, she ended up doing so.

So, while we probably didn’t have the same political ideals I can say she was honest, forthright, and ethical in her short discussion with me.  When I heard of the assasination news that moment in the stairwell immediately came back to me and shook me to the soul.

Recently a letter to the editor on the grief of the Hortman assasination was printed in the Minnesota Star and Tribune.  The writer said, “I am grieving a country that has become numb to cruelty.  A nation where the capacity to care is treated as a partisan liability.  Where empathy is mocked, where decency is dismissed as weakness and where powerful. . .are met not with respect but with violence.”

So, here I am — at the intersection of education and grief.  It’s not a position unique to me and former President of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) in Great Britain, John Adams, finds himself at the same spot.  I had the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Adams at the United States NFDA convention in Baltimore in 2022 and learn more about his goals.

One of those goals is to unite education and grief by making a course on Death, Dying, and Bereavement a required course in the British National Curriculum.  To that end he has already had an audience with King Charles and last December addressed the Members of Parliament on the subject where he received very positive responses.  Here’s the latest update on what is happening with his initiative.

Back to Financial Literacy — I won’t give up on my quest to get more people to understand the value of knowing finances and the ramifications in one’s life on how they manage their finances.  Matter of fact, I think in the world we live in there should be a lot more room to learn the “soft sciences” like bereavement and/or financial literacy.

Maybe if we can help with that eduaction our communities can understand the value of empathy and grieve with compassion when we lose our friends and neighbors. . . . And, maybe like John Adams in Great Britain funeral directors, who exhibit that “capacity to care” can lead the way.

Related –– “Death-A Changing Industry” podcast hosted by John Adams.  This episode is titled “What my children taught me about Grieving”

More news from the world of Death Care:

Enter your e-mail below to join the 3,191 others who receive Funeral Director Daily articles daily:

“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”

The ICCFA Experience: Transforming Deathcare Education in Las Vegas

STERLING, Va. (Jan. 30, 2025)—The International Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association (ICCFA) is thrilled to unveil a groundbreaking educational lineup for The ICCFA Experience, which will take place April 30–May 3 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. This year’s event will showcase an immersive experience for deathcare professionals with dynamic sessions on the Expo Hall floor, where attendees can interact with speakers, exhibitors and peers in a fully immersive and collaborative setting. From innovative marketing strategies to insights on hospice partnerships, these educational sessions will give attendees the tools to thrive in the rapidly evolving deathcare profession.

Wednesday, April 30: Pre-Convention Breakouts

Tough Love for the Telephone – A Gut Check on the Call Experience

Presented by: Nicki Wiedeman, CSE, Dead Ringers

When: Wednesday, April 30, 10–10:50 a.m.

Dive into the often-overlooked art of phone communication with Nicki Wiedeman as she shares practical tips to transform clients’ call experiences. This session will equip attendees with actionable strategies to improve customer service and boost operational efficiency.

Serving Comfort: How Food & Beverage Can Feed Your Bottom Line
Presented by: Caleb Klein, Loving Ceremony
When: Wednesday, April 30, 1–1:50 p.m.
Learn how integrating food and beverage services can enhance personalization, boost customer satisfaction, and unlock new revenue streams. Caleb Klein will explore dynamic pricing, tiered options, and catering models to maximize operational success.

Thursday, May 1: Opening Day Highlights

Creating Community Experiences Roundtable
Host: Shane Pudenz, Carriage

Panelists: Erin Creger, Security National Funeral Homes & Cemeteries; Robert Gordon, Jr., CCE, Cypress Lawn; René Negrete, Inglewood Park Cemetery
When: Thursday, May 1, 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
This engaging roundtable will explore the art and science of crafting community events that draw people to your funeral home and/or cemetery. Attendees will learn how to create unforgettable experiences that boost name recognition, strengthen community bonds and position their facilities as destination venues.

Keynote Session: I Love It Here – Create an Organization People Never Want to Leave
Presented by: Clint Pulver, Retention Expert and Keynote Speaker
When: Thursday, May 1, 2–3 p.m.Clint Pulver’s unforgettable keynote will inspire leaders to reimagine mentorship and cultivate a culture where employees thrive. By exploring the power of mentorship over traditional management techniques, Clint will provide actionable strategies for fostering engagement, collaboration, and purpose.

Friday, May 2: Must-Attend Educational Sessions

AI Meets Empathy: Innovating Deathcare Services Without Compromising Compassion

Presented by: Alexandra Mysoor, Alix

When: Friday, May 2, 9–10 a.m.

Discover how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing deathcare by improving operations while maintaining the human connection families need.

Reimagining the Funeral Experience – Leveraging Technology for Growth
Presented by: Zack Moy, Afterword
When: Friday, May 2, 10–11 a.m.
This data-driven talk challenges traditional perceptions of online funeral planning and reveals how technology can lead to higher revenue and stronger family connections. Attendees will gain insights into using technology like task management, digital calendars, and e-signature platforms to create exceptional online experiences.

Registration Open

Don’t miss the opportunity to participate in this transformative event! With sessions tailored for progressive deathcare professionals, The ICCFA Experience is your chance to expand your knowledge, make valuable connections and leave with actionable insights. For the full schedule and registration details, visit https://iccfa.com/annual/.

###

Founded in 1887, the International Cemetery, Cremation, and Funeral Association is the only international trade association representing all segments of the cemetery, cremation, funeral, and memorialization profession. The association is comprised of more than 10,000 members in the cemetery, funeral home, and crematory industries, as well as supplier and related businesses worldwide.

ASD Partners with Continuing Vision to Empower Funeral Directors Through Education

Media, PA—ASD – Answering Service for Directors is proud to announce a new partnership with Continuing Vision, an education provider that hosts virtual and on-site events with the goal of helping funeral directors fulfill their CE requirements. This collaboration aims to support funeral professionals in their efforts to stay informed about the latest advancements in the profession while maintaining compliance with state licensing requirements.

ASD’s dedication to supporting funeral directors aligns perfectly with Continuing Vision’s mission to deliver exceptional educational content. Recognizing that many funeral professionals face challenges in finding time to attend conferences and conventions, ASD has teamed up with Continuing Vision to share in their important mission of providing funeral directors with the resources they need to thrive in their demanding roles.

Continuing Vision offers flexible and accessible learning options, including online courses and in-house sessions, allowing funeral directors to choose the format that best suits their schedules and preferences. This approach enables professionals to stay informed and up-to-date on industry practices while managing the responsibilities of running a funeral home.

In addition to CE educational opportunities, Continuing Vision has also launched a Mentoring Program that ASD is proud to support. This expanding initiative connects newly licensed funeral directors with seasoned mentors from outside their workplace. The program offers guidance, advice, and professional support to help emerging professionals navigate the challenges and intricacies of the funeral profession.

“ASD has a longstanding tradition of supporting funeral service education through partnerships with organizations like the Funeral Service Foundation, Selected Educational Trust, and ICCFA Educational Foundation,” shared ASD Family-Member Owner, Kevin Czachor. “Our collaboration with Continuing Vision reflects ASD’s commitment to expanding opportunities for funeral professionals to enhance their knowledge and skills. We especially value Continuing Vision’s innovative approach to making professional development more attainable and accessible to busy working funeral professionals.”

Founded in 2006 by Funeral Director, Jeff Holcomb, Continuing Vision began with a mission to bring quality and affordable CE education to NY and NJ funeral directors. Today, Jeff continues the journey with hopes of being able to provide a platform for funeral professionals nationwide where they are able to fulfill license requirements and learn valuable information to better serve the families in their communities. With the help of knowledgeable and passionate presenters, Continuing Vision now presents informative, relevant and creative courses, both online and in-person, to funeral directors in more than 18 states across the country (and the list is growing!)

“I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the entire ASD family for their decision to partner with Continuing Vision to provide meaningful Continuing Education credits to the dedicated men and women of funeral service,” shared Jeff Holcomb, Founder of Continuing Vision. “This partnership will enable Continuing Vision to continue supporting funeral professionals with meaningful and impactful education. Thank you, ASD, for sharing my commitment to excellence and for helping Continuing Vision make a difference in this vital profession.”

About Continuing Vision

The mission of Continuing Vision is to provide those of the funeral profession with quality continuing education courses to earn state approved credit for renewal. Added with the convenience of registering online and verification of attendance just an email away, Continuing Vision aims to make earning CE credits as easy as possible for deathcare professionals. Offering helpful courses, resources, and mentorship, Continuing Vision is committed to supporting those who strive for continuous excellence within their field. To learn more, visit www.continuingvision.com or call 718-619-1700.

About ASD

ASD – Answering Service for Directors has created a new class of answering service for the funeral profession. Family owned and operated since 1972, ASD blends state-of-the-art technology with an extensive, 6-month training program focusing on compassionate care. The company’s custom-built communication systems and sophisticated mobile tools were designed solely to meet the needs of funeral professionals. By offering funeral directors unmatched protection for their calls, ASD has redefined the role of an answering service for funeral homes.  For more information, visit www.myASD.com or call 1-800-868-9950.