Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools Accreditation Commission Meeting November 6-8, 2011 MILLENNIUM Maxwell House Hotel 2025 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard Nashville, TN 37228-1505 ACCREDITED STATUS The following institutions were granted Accredited Status by the TRACS Accreditation Commission after completing a successful self-study and being evaluated by an on-site evaluation team: Boston Baptist College (950 Metropolitan Avenue, Boston, MA 02136) appeared before the TRACS Accreditation Commission on November 8, 2011, and was granted Accredited Status (Reaffirmation II) as a Category II institution (approved to offer Certificates, Diplomas and the Associate and Bachelors degrees. Reaffirmation II is for a period of ten years (2011-2021) with an Interim Five-Year Quality-Compliance Review (QCR) scheduled for 2016. For Reaffirmation III, BBC November 2021. The Commission action requires that Boston Baptist College submit a Progress Report for any remaining recommendations and/or suggestions by February 15, 2012. The institution must come into compliance with all remaining recommendations and suggestions by February 15, 2013, and provide documentation supporting this for presentation to the April 2013 Commission meeting. Bethesda University of California (730 North Euclid Street, Anaheim, CA 92801) At the meeting on November 8, 2011, the TRACS Accreditation Commission voted to grant to Bethesda University of California (BUOC) Accredited (Reaffirmation I) status as a Category IV Institution approved to offer Certificates, Diplomas and Associate, Bachelor, Master and Doctorate Degrees. Reaffirmation I is for a period of ten years (2011-2021) with an Interim Five-Year Quality Compliance Review (QCR) scheduled for 2016. For Reaffirmation II, the 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 November 2021.
The Commission action requires that Bethesda University of California submit a Progress Report for any remaining recommendations and/or suggestions by February 15, 2012, and come into compliance with all remaining recommendations and suggestions by February 15, 2013, along with providing documentation supporting this for presentation to the April 2013 Commission meeting. Bob Jones University (1700 Wade Hampton Boulevard, Greenville, SC 29614) At the meeting on November 8, 2011, the TRACS Accreditation Commission voted to grant to Bob Jones University (BJU) Accredited (Reaffirmation I) status as a Category IV Institution approved to offer Certificates, Diplomas and Associate, Bachelor, Master and Doctorate Degrees. Reaffirmation I is for a period of ten years (2011-2021) with an Interim Five-Year Quality Compliance Review (QCR) scheduled for 2016. For Reaffirmation II, BJU November 2021. The Commission action requires that Bob Jones University submit a Progress Report addressing any remaining recommendations and/or suggestions by February 15, 2012. Bob Jones University must come into compliance with all remaining recommendations and suggestions by August 15, 2012, and provide documentation supporting this for presentation to the November 2012 Commission meeting. Christ s College (51 Tzu Chiang Taipei-Taiwan, ROC 25162) At the meeting on November 8, 2011, the TRACS Accreditation Commission voted to grant to Christ s College (CC) Accredited (Reaffirmation I) status as a Category II Institution approved to offer Certificates, Diplomas and Associate and Bachelor Degrees. Reaffirmation I is for a period of ten years (2011-2021) with an Interim Five-Year Quality Compliance Review (QCR) scheduled for 2016. For Reaffirmation II, CC November 2021. The Commission action requires that Christ s College submit a Progress Report for any remaining recommendations and/or suggestions by February 15, 2012. Christ s College must come into compliance with all remaining recommendations and suggestions by February 15, 2013, and provide documentation supporting this for presentation to the April 2013 Commission meeting. Page 2 of 7
University of Fort Lauderdale (4093 N.W. 16 th Street, Lauderhill, FL 33313) At the meeting on November 7, 2011, the TRACS Accreditation Commission voted to grant to University of Fort Lauderdale (UFTL) Accredited status as a, Category IV Institution approved to offer Certificates, Diplomas and Associate, Bachelor, Master and Doctorate Degrees with the following conditions: 1. The institution must address the issue of inadequate student enrollment in programs (Standard 10.9.e.) 2. The institution must demonstrate the adequacy of its Doctor of Ministry program compared to national norms. (Standard 11.1.b.) Accredited Status is for a period of five years (2011-2016). For Reaffirmation I, UFTL must complete a successful self study, host an on-site team evaluation, respond to November 2016. The Commission action requires that the University of Fort Lauderdale submit a Progress Report for the above conditions and any remaining recommendations and/or suggestions by February 15, 2012. The University of Fort Lauderdale must come into compliance with all conditions and remaining recommendations and suggestions by February 15, 2013, and provide documentation supporting this for presentation to the April 2013 Commission meeting. Virginia Baptist College (4105 Plank Road, Fredericksburg, VA 22407) At the meeting on November 8, 2011, the TRACS Accreditation Commission, voted to grant to Virginia Baptist College (VBC) Accredited status as a, Category III Institution approved to offer Certificates, Diplomas and Associate, Bachelor, and Master Degrees and Distance Learning. Accredited Status is for a period of five years (2011-2016). For Reaffirmation I, VBC November 2016. The Commission action requires that Virginia Baptist College submit a Progress Report for any remaining recommendations and/or suggestions by February 15, 2012. Virginia Baptist College must come into compliance with all remaining recommendations and suggestions by August 15, 2012, and provide documentation supporting this for presentation to the November 2012 Commission meeting. Page 3 of 7
PRE-ACCREDITED STATUS (CANDIDATE STATUS) The following institutions were granted Pre-Accredited (Candidate) Status by the TRACS Accreditation Commission after completing a successful self-study and being evaluated by an on-site evaluation team: Grace School of Theology (P.O. Box 7477, The Woodlands, TX 77387) The Accreditation Commission at its November 6-8, 2011, meeting voted to grant Grace School of Theology (GSOT) Pre-Accredited (Candidate) Status as a Category III institution. Grace School of Theology (GSOT) is approved to offer non-degree certificate programs in Biblical Studies and Theological Studies, and Master of Arts in Biblical Studies, Masters of Divinity and Master of Theology. The Commission action requires that Grace School of Theology submit a Progress Report for any remaining recommendations and/or suggestions by February 15, 2012. Grace School of Theology must come into compliance with all remaining recommendations by February 15, 2013, and provide documentation supporting this for presentation to the April 2013 Commission meeting. Pre-Accredited (Candidate) status is for up to a five-year period through November 2016. During that time the institution must come into substantive compliance with all the accreditation standards. Within this period, GSOT must conduct a self-study, host an onsite team evaluation, and appear before the Accreditation Commission for Accreditation. Pensacola Christian College (250 Brent Lane, Pensacola, FL 32503) The Accreditation Commission at its November 6-8, 2011, meeting voted to grant Pensacola Christian College (PCC) Pre-Accredited (Candidate) Status as a Category IV institution approved to offer certificates and the associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees (including distance learning A Progress Report is due at the TRACS Office by February 15, 2012, addressing the remaining recommendations and suggestions. Pensacola Christian College must come into compliance with all remaining recommendations by August 15, 2013, and provide documentation supporting this for presentation to the November 2013 Commission meeting. Pre-Accredited (Candidate) status is for up to a five-year period through November, 2016. During that time the institution must come into substantive compliance with all the accreditation standards. Within this period, PCC must conduct a self-study, host an onsite team evaluation, and appear before the Accreditation Commission for Accreditation. Page 4 of 7
DEFERRED Crown College (2307 West Beaver Creek Drive, Powell, TN 37849) The TRACS Accreditation Commission at its November 8, 2011, meeting, reviewed the request of Crown College (CC) to be granted Pre-Accredited (Candidate) Status as a Category III institution. The Commission voted to defer Candidacy for the reasons listed below. The institution is not in the appropriate compliance with the following Institutional Eligibility Requirements and Accreditation Standards: 1) The requirement for a positive external Audit and an available Line of Credit equaling 10% of the institution s annual budget. (Standards 18.3, 18.6) 2) Appropriate Faculty Credentials (Standards 14.4, 14.5, and 15.1) The Commission deferral requires that CC specifically address the above issues. Responses to these issues and the remaining Partially Compliant Recommendations should be addressed in a Progress Report and submitted to the TRACS Office by February 15, 2012. If Crown College is able to document compliance with the two areas noted above by the time of the February 15, 2012, Progress Report, the institution will be placed on the April 2012 Accreditation Commission agenda for consideration of approval for Candidate Status. Georgia Christian University (646 Exchange Place, Lilburn, GA 3004) The TRACS Accreditation Commission at its November 8, 2011, meeting voted to defer granting Georgia Christian University (GCU) Accredited Status as a Category IV institution. The Commission deferral included the following conditions before GCU can move forward to Accredited Status: 1) Receipt of December 31, 2011, Positive Financial Audit for 2011 (Standard 18.2) 2) Establishment and maintenance of a 10% line of credit (Standard 18.6) 3) Hiring a Librarian with MLS degree (Standard 25.4) Responses to the above conditions and the remaining Partially Compliant Recommendations should be addressed in a Progress Report and submitted to the TRACS Office by February 15, 2012. The Accreditation Commission has given GCU one year (until August 15, 2012) to come into compliance with these conditions and the remaining Recommendations for presentation to the November 2012 Commission meeting. Page 5 of 7
If Georgia Christian College is able to document compliance with the three conditions noted above, by the time of the February 15, 2012, Progress Report, the institution will be placed on the April 2012 Accreditation Commission agenda for consideration of approval for Accredited Status. GCU will continue in Candidate Status as a Category IV institution, approved to offer the associate, bachelor, master and doctoral degrees. The institution must appear before the Accreditation Commission for Accredited Status by April 2014. ADVERSE ACTIONS Apex School of Theology The TRACS Accreditation Commission (AC) at its November 8, 2011, voted to require Apex School of Theology to Show Cause as to why its accreditation should not be revoked. TRACS Policy and U.S. Department of Education (DOE) regulations require institutions to be in compliance with all Standards when reviewed by the AC or come into compliance with all Standards (fulfill all Recommendations) within two years of the date of the AC s review. Because Apex was approved at the November 2009 Commission meeting for Accreditation (Reaffirmation I), the institution had to come into compliance on the remaining Standards (fulfill all Recommendations) by the time of the Progress Report of August 15, 2011, which would serve as the basis of review by the Accreditation Commission at the November 2011 meeting. As of October 31, 2011, Apex School of Theology remained out of compliance with eight recommendations representing twelve Standards. The AC determined ASOT s failure to come into compliance with all Accreditation Standards by the end of the two-year period required an immediate adverse action in accord with the adverse action policy related to 34 CFR 60220(b) [i]f the institution or program with the adverse action policy related to compliance within the specified period, the agency must take immediate adverse action unless the agency, for good cause, extends the period for achieving compliance. The AC determined that it did not have good cause to extend the period for achieving compliance. On the basis of this determination and consistent with TRACS Policy, the AC passed a motion requiring ASOT to Show Cause why its accreditation should not be revoked which included the following requirement: Within 60 days of the receipt of the notice to Show Cause, ASOT must provide TRACS President with a written institutional response as to why the AC should not remove accreditation from the institution. In this response, ASOT must address the remaining eight Recommendations and twelve non-compliant Standards and provide timelines and supporting documentation as to the actions ASOT has taken and how the institution plans to come into compliance. Page 6 of 7
Messenger College Because Messenger College (MC) was not in compliance with all Accreditation Standards, the Accreditation Commission (AC) passed a motion to place MC on Warning. Messenger College will have one year to come into compliance with the four Standards (14.1, 14.5, 14.16, and 25.4) with a Progress Report due February 15, 2012. Should MC document compliance with these four Standards by that date, a recommendation will be made to the Accreditation Commission that MC be removed from Warning at the April 2012 meeting. MC must be in compliance with these four Standards by August 15, 2012, for a recommendation for removal of Warning within the period allowed at the November 2012 meeting. Failure to do so may result in stronger action by the Accreditation Commission. SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES APPROVED BY ACCREDITATION COMMISSION The TRACS Accreditation Commission on November 7, 2011, approved the following Substantive Changes. Bakke Graduate University (1013 8 th Avenue, Suite 401, Seattle, WA 98104) Initial approval to start a Branch Campus in Hong Kong: Unit 1502, 8 Jordan Road Kowloon, Hong Kong Messenger College (300 E. 50 th Street, Joplin, MO 64804) To change the location of the campus from Joplin, MO to: 2705 Brown Trail Bedford, TX Piedmont Baptist College and Graduate School (420 South Broad Street, Winston- Salem, NC 27101) To add a program: Master in Education, Curriculum and Instruction Shasta Bible College (2951 Goodwater Avenue, Redding, CA 9600) To add a Master of Divinity Degree in Chaplaincy Ministry Visible Music College (200 Madison Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103) To add distance education Page 7 of 7