Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools Accreditation Commission Meeting October 28-29, 2013

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1 Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools Accreditation Commission Meeting October 28-29, 2013 Manchester Grand Hyatt One Market Place San Diego, CA CANDIDATE (PRE-ACCREDITED) STATUS Candidacy is for up to a five-year period. During that time, the institution must come into substantive compliance with all the accreditation standards, conduct a self-study, host an on-site team evaluation, and appear before the Accreditation Commission for Accredited Status. To maintain Candidate Status the institution must remain in compliance with all IERrelated Standards. The following institutions were granted Candidate Status by the TRACS Accreditation Bethel Bible Seminary (45-47 Grampian Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong) The Accreditation Commission at its October 29, 2013, meeting voted to grant Bethel Bible Seminary Candidate Status as a Category IV institution. Responses to any remaining in process recommendations must be addressed in a Progress Report submitted to the TRACS office by February 15, The institution must come into compliance with all remaining recommendations and suggestions prior to receiving permission to move to the process for Accredited Status. Crossroads College (920 Mayowood Road SW, Rochester, MN 55902) The Accreditation Commission at its October 29, 2013, meeting voted to grant Crossroads College Candidate Status as a Category II institution, with one condition. Responses to any remaining in process recommendations and suggestions must be addressed in a Progress Report submitted to the TRACS office by February 15, The institution must come into compliance with the Commission s condition by August 15, 2014, and come into compliance with all remaining recommendations and suggestions prior to receiving permission to move to the process for Accredited Status. ACCREDITED STATUS Initial accreditation is for a period of five years ( ). For Reaffirmation, each institution must complete a successful self-study, host an on-site team evaluation, respond to the team recommendations, and appear before the Accreditation Commission by October The following institutions were granted Accredited Status by the TRACS Accreditation

2 Hiwassee College (225 Hiwassee College Drive, Madisonville, TN The Accreditation Commission at its October 29, 2013, meeting voted to grant Hiwassee College Accredited Status as a Category II institution, with one condition. must come into compliance with the Commission s condition by February 15, In addition, the institution must come into compliance with all remaining recommendations by August 15, 2015, and provide documentation supporting this for presentation to the fall 2015 Pensacola Christian College (250 Brent Lane, Pensacola, FL 32503) The Accreditation Commission at its October 29, 2013, meeting voted to grant Pensacola Christian College Accredited Status as a Category IV institution. must come into compliance with all remaining recommendations by February 15, 2015, and provide documentation supporting this for presentation to the spring 2015 Shorter College (604 Locust Street, North Little Rock, AR 72114) The Accreditation Commission at its October 29, 2013, meeting voted to grant Shorter College Accredited Status as a Category I institution. The Commission action requires the institution submit a Progress Report for any must come into compliance with all remaining recommendations by August 15, 2015, and provide documentation supporting this for presentation at the fall 2015 Commission meeting. REAFFIRMATION Reaffirmation is for a period of ten years with an Interim Five-Year Quality-Compliance Review (QCR). For the next Reaffirmation cycle, each institution must complete a successful self-study, host an on-site team evaluation, respond to the team recommendations and appear before the Accreditation Commission by October The following institutions were granted Reaffirmation by the TRACS Accreditation Central Baptist Theological Seminary of Minneapolis (900 Forest View Lane N, Plymouth, MN 55441) The Accreditation Commission at its October 29, 2013, meeting voted to grant Central Baptist Theological Seminary of Minneapolis Reaffirmation I status as a Category IV institution, with one condition. must Page 2 of 5

3 come into compliance with the Commission s condition by February 15, In addition, the institution must come into compliance with all remaining recommendations and suggestions by August 15, 2015, and provide documentation supporting this for presentation to the fall 2015 Clinton College (1029 Crawford Road, Rock Hill, SC 29730) The Accreditation Commission at its October 29, 2013, meeting voted to grant Clinton College Reaffirmation II status as a Category II institution. must come into compliance with all remaining recommendations and suggestions by August 15, 2015, and provide documentation supporting this for presentation to the fall 2015 EUCON International College (P.O. Box CK, Saipan, MP USA) The Accreditation Commission at its October 29, 2013, meeting voted to grant EUCON International College Reaffirmation I status as a Category II institution. must come into compliance with all remaining recommendations and suggestions by August 15, 2014, and provide documentation supporting this for presentation to the fall 2014 ADVERSE ACTION Faith Theological Seminary (529 Walker Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21212) The Accreditation Commission voted on October 29, 2013, to place Faith Theological Seminary (FTS) on Probation for failure to adequately address their concerns regarding the financial stability of the institution and non-compliance with TRACS Standards 17.1, c., and These three standards are part of Institutional Eligibility Requirement (IER) #7 which are required for Candidate Status. FTS will have one year to come into compliance with these Standards with a first Progress Report due February 15, 2014, and a second Progress Report due August 15, In addition, in their action, the Accreditation Commission identified the following two conditions, which allow TRACS to monitor the financial stability of FTS: Submission of internally-generated financial statements at least quarterly (monthly recommended), beginning with the quarter ending September 30, Such reports must be submitted no later than the 20th of the month following the previous month s end That FTS submit by January 31, 2014, an explanation of why contributions receivable have continued to be included in financial statements, in violation of TRACS standards, and what steps the institution is taking to remove contributions receivable from the accounting general ledger FTS must document compliance with the above noted Standards on or before the date of the second report and provide the documentation required by the Commission action to be made available to the Accreditation Commission at the October 22-24, 2014, At Page 3 of 5

4 that time, the Commission could remove FTS from Probation, continue the Probation for another year, or require FTS to Show Cause as to why its Candidate Status should not be removed. Because financial stability is at the core of TRACS responsibility as a gatekeeper for Federal Title IV Funds, it is essential that FTS show this level of compliance prior to moving from Candidate Status to Accredited Status. A decision to allow FTS to submit a Self-Study Proposal for Accreditation Status will be held pending a review of the two required Progress Reports. Virginia University of Lynchburg (2058 Garfield Avenue, Lynchburg, VA 24501) The Accreditation Commission voted on October 29, 2013, to place VUL on Probation for failure to adequately maintain the financial stability of the institution and non-compliance with TRACS Standards 17.1, 17.3, 17. 4, 17.5, and VUL will have one year to come into compliance with these Standards, with a first Progress Report due February 15, 2014, and a second Progress Report due August 15, In addition, in their action, the Accreditation Commission identified the following two conditions, which will allow TRACS to monitor the financial stability of VUL: That monthly financial statements, beginning with October 2013, be submitted to the TRACS office, no later than 20 days after the month s end That VUL submit to the TRACS office an internal trial balance as of June 30, 2014, submitted no later than August 1, 2014, and its annual audit for the year ending June 30, 2014, by September 1, 2014 VUL must document compliance with the above noted Standards on or before the date of the second report and provide the documentation required by the Commission action, to be made available to the Accreditation Commission at the October 22-24, 2014, At that time, the Commission could remove VUL from Probation, continue the Probation for another year, or require VUL to Show Cause as to why its Accredited Status should not be removed. This Accreditation Commission action underscores the fact that financial stability is at the core of TRACS responsibility as a gatekeeper for Federal Title IV Funds, and the importance of VUL moving aggressively to fully address the concerns which necessitated that the Accreditation Commission take such action. REMOVAL OF ADVERSE ACTION Gutenberg College (1883 University Street, Eugene, OR 97403) Having found that Gutenberg College (GC) has addressed the issues which precipitated the Accreditation Commission to place the institution on Probation, and that GC is now in compliance with all Accreditation Standards identified through the TRACS Institutional Staff Review Financial (ISR-F) process, the Accreditation Commission on October 29, 2013, voted to remove the institution from Probation Status. TRACS will continue to review GC under the ISR-F process and may request additional information which will allow staff to monitor the financial progress of the institution. Page 4 of 5

5 SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES APPROVED BY ACCREDITATION COMMISSION The TRACS Accreditation Commission on October 29, 2013, approved the following Substantive Changes: Grace Mission University (1645 W. Valencia Drive, Fullerton, CA 92833) To add M.A. in Intercultural Studies Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College (3701 S. I-35 Frontage Road, Moore, OK 73153) To add a Master of Public Administration The King s University (14800 Sherman Way, Los Angeles, CA 91405) To change Van Nuys (main campus) site into a branch campus SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES DEFERRED BY ACCREDITATION COMMISSION The TRACS Accreditation Commission on October 29, 2013, deferred the following Substantive Change: Bethesda University (730 North Euclid Street, Anaheim, CA 92801) To add an MBA degree Page 5 of 5