Accs?

Anyone have any info on ACCS accreditation status?

North are you going to graduate from there soon?

 

They're keeping their website up to date: better photo of Fred Hambrick with a new tie.

 

Yeh but it bugs the heck out of me that they have not taken the time to up date their mini classes. They still have 03 offerings posted.

It is small things like that, that make me wonder if they are on top of things.

 

Robert,

I know no more than you do. I do not know if Bill has any secret nuggets of information.

My impression is that this time ACCS truly does not know how they will fair. Last time they had a good idea they would get a delay. They thought it would be 'Show Cause' and they got better than that. This time I get no sense that they know one way or they other. They are hopeful but not exibiting any over confidence.

We will know after the first part of April.

I think things got so administratively messed up that they are trying to come out of it. When you go through accreditation you come out with systems in place that you seek to maintain that & keep you on a straight road. My *impression* is that the previous administration in short order side tracked them onto a dirt road by not following procedures (such as getting board approvals for actions, etc). Then they finished it off with slapping together an outdated self study and retiring.

Those of us who have dealt with ACCS realize there were internal procedures that were messed up. I should have detailed the lost paperwork, delays, etc. Uncle called this an 'aw shucks attitude' but this type of stuff is guarenteed to cause troubles for you as it speaks of other issues. Even if you were putting out a quality academic product, the administrative things will quash a program (recent examples come to mind).

Were they genuine in their attempt at academic quality. In the parts I have seen the answer would be yes..especially in terms of the ARP which seemed to pretty much be a dissertation and they were stringent with it. I understand this has evolved over time as someone who graduated earlier said thy did not have quite the same process.

They have tried to straighten things out administratively but whether it is now a case of too little too late only time will tell.

I wish them luck and I am sad for the folks who work there and are trying. Some good people. However, fault must be borne by the school and they seem willing to do so. Someone should have been on top of the TRACS procedures and told Sheely.....hey wait a minute you can't do that.

North

 

I have no particular insight, but I did speak with the TRACS chief administrator about ACCS. He clarified for me one faculty issue raised in the TRACS evaluation of ACCS.

If one will look at that TRACS document, one will see that the ACCS difficulties extend beyond mere "administrative" paperwork. Of interest to me was the TRACS requirement for profs of Biblical/Theological studies. The TRACS administrator specifically said to me that ACCS was found wanting there as TRACS does not deem the DMin as a qualification to teach grad Bib/Theo (neither does UZ).

Therefore, without some qualified additions to the Bib/Theo faculty, how could ACCS possibly meet TRACS specs?

Best wishes to Robert and North,

 

Made the call/got nowhere

I made the call to TRACS as some have suggested , and got no where. They just said wait and see. I have in the past sent e mail to them had have yet to get a reply.

I guess i will just wait.

North are you still going to graduate with a DMin?

Robert

 

Re: Made the call/got nowhere

 

We will know in the next couple of weeks how they have come along. I certainly wish them the best.

You need to remember that your issue with them is easily rectified as I understand it through simply dropping the nomenclature of "biblical studies" and making it "ministry". Heck, they could drop it all together.

The situation with all the administrative problems is quite another matter. From a regulatory point of view all of these problems of which your issue is only a symptom, lead back to systemic disease. These are harder to fix. I have seen this time and time again where on the surface there are minor and sometimes larger missteps but the problem is that there is something out of whack with the system as a whole that ensures the continuation or self perpetuation of problems.

I hope and pray that our brothers and sisters at ACCS have overcome the systemic problems that lead to all of this disequilibrium. Whether they have or not remains to be seen. I feel for the students, the faculty and staff whose lives have been invested in this school.

I recall what one of our administrators said (probably borrowed it from Covey or someone).....if things are going wrong on the battlefield you do not simply switch the soldiers you change the strategy.


North

 

Rec'd the ACCS Newsletter this week. Not a word about the TRACS problems. Still think the school has an obligation to update students and prospective students on accreditation.

 

Agreed. I don't know whether many do or not though. Human nature. I especially agree with regard to a Christian school. Unfortunately, it does not surprise me that they bow to self preservation.

Heck, we have "Christian schools" accredited by ACI, and other strange situations. Sighh.....

Human nature.... Reminds me of the Catholic Bishop in AZ that hit the man. An article I read said the pedestrian was drunk and crossing at the wrong point. Had the Bishop stopped it said he likely would not have been charged with anything but in the moment of crisis he choose wrong and all of that ethical training went out the window and he fled the scene. A man is dead and the Bishop is going to have to rely on the grace of God to get over the fact that in a moment of testing he failed (I know Peter did too). That is our fallen nature.

North

 

Hi, North,

Are you still enrolled at ACCS? Are you still thinking of enrolling at Trinity?

I should have my first Trinity courses next week.

 

===

Yeah! Wish I had been in the holiness movement like Russell so I wouldn't be so fallen

 

If you belonged in the liberal movement you wouldn't have to worry about it at all.

 

Let me know how it goes Jimmy. I took as Masters in Christian Counseling from ACCS rather than the DMin so I could finish. I needed the degree for a chaplaincy program and would have had to take another year to finish the ARP.

I am still debating about Trinity. I wish they took the GI Bill. I got the 35% tuition reducation so that makes the courses pretty affordable.

North

 

I'll let you know. I am glad you got the 35% tuition reduction. That is a big help as I received it also.

My monthly payment will only be about $50!

I am glad you finished at ACCS just in case the accreditation issue doesn't end up favorably.

I looked into ACCS but didn't feel comfortable with the answers I received regarding TRACS.

Admittedly, I only spoke with an enrollment advisor or someone who deals with prospective students. Her name is Susan.

I will pray all goes well for ACCS. I have become "friends" with some ACCS grads via this forum and know they, too, want ACCS to remain TRACS accredited.

 

North, will you continue your studies at accs if their Tracs problems are cleared up?

Robert

accs on hold student

 

I probably cannot continue since taking the M.A. I might consider the DMin (again) if they make it because of the GI Bill.

One of my frustrations would be if they were to be reaffirmed but say only for a one year period (don't know whether that is possible or not).

I hope they have cleared up enough for reaffirmation but I do not know. As I said systemic problems are difficult to get ahold of (can be done). Problems like Bill's nomenclature issue can be fixed.

How far along were you? Were you using GI Bill. Have you considered transfering to Trinity? Certainly more affordable. It is a risk but so is ACCS at the moment.

North

 

North, i had taken three courses toward a MDIV requiement, then i was planning to go into their DMin program. I have since stopped working on my class. I hope things get cleared up.

I have considered Trinity but not seriously. i am sort of losing steam.

If they are re affirmed i will start again.

If not i am not sure i will continue. Although the D RS at Trinity looks interesting.

Robert

 

North,
Just curious...did they give you a cheapo diploma like they gave me?

BLD