The Less Accs

ACCS has dropped degree programs . www.accs.edu

While IMO ACCS was before not a mill , perhaps other UA schools which offer grad degrees without the substance to provide supervision of such should also follow ACCS and offer diplomas only!

 

The change was made shortly after losing accreditation.

It would be nice to list their tuition and describe the programs offered.

 

Re: Re: The Less Accs

 

Re: Re: Re: The Less Accs

 

a la recherche du temps perdu

They should find one very narrow specialization (pentecostalism and ayurveda, say), develop one diplomate program in that, hire a couple of real PhD folks to run it, restrict enrolment to a modest figure, and develop a niche market. Otherwise, the outfit's on life support. They should also change the name to American Christian Seminary, or, preferably, Oklahoma City Christian Institute or something like that.

 

Bill: "While IMO ACCS was before not a mill , perhaps other UA schools which offer grad degrees without the substance to provide supervision of such should also follow ACCS and offer diplomas only"

Dave: I agree. While I have no problem with unaccredited theological schools using traditional program titles, there is no shame in a "diploma", provided there is a substantial program of study behind it.

 

Given enough time, Janko's prescription might also bring them within reach of accreditation once again. Anybody know if accrediting bodies have a mandatory waiting period for those denied re-accreditation?

 

no accs to grind

The first step would be to demonstrate compliance on every single issue raised by the accreditor at the time of revocation (and leading up to that step). ACCS was slapdash (surprise!) in their dealings with TRACS. Whether or not there's a stipulated waiting period, ACCS would have to demonstrate that this compliance was not just a temporary Potemkin village affair, but a new and reasonably permanent modus operandi. This would require emotional discipline, too. I would like to think they could--slowly--get their act in gear. But without emotional discipline, nice guys though they doubtless are, it won't happen.

 

Re: a la recherche du temps perdu

For a long time didn't schools that weren't necessarily theological seminaries use the word "seminary" in their name? I seem to remember a Buffalo Seminary in NY that was an all girls' school but not a theological seminary.

 

Well......I obviously have a vested (alumnus) interest in the situation but here are my thoughts.

ACCS did indeed switch to offering only diplomas and this is the result of education laws in OK which are tighter than some states. After losing accreditation they could no longer offer degrees.

Yes, to someone elses question, they can reapply to TRACS. I believe they must wait for a year before they reapply. That of course has its own problems in terms of the year being up and then missing the biannual(??) TRACS meeting. In my opinion they should have simply dropped the doctoral programs as an interim measure and went for DETC accreditation. TRACS standards seem somewhat tighter so they should have been able to meet these. For whatever reason they did not attempt this and seem foucssed on their teach out students.

ACCS had a number of administrative flaws (oy vey have I experienced them). Bill had concerns about the DMin in Biblical studies (which has been discussed to death in a number of forms so I will not rehash). But I think on whole they were academically solid. The doctoral program in counseling had qualified PhD's (plural) supervising the program. I can attest to the fact that submission of the Applied Research Project (dissertation) proposal was no rubber stamp. They did not simply approve it and in fact I had to rework the proposal, examine and assess it in coordination with my doctoral advisor. Someone at ACCS once mentioned that they had been DANTES approved which the person claimed that at the time UofP was unable to make after trying (don't know whether they are now or not) or if this is even significant.

At any rate, it is a sad story. The seminary started as unaccredited, took a while to get through candidacy and finally receive accreditation. I had to wait for full accreditation to have them VA approved. Then to get to almost the end mark after a couple of years and then feel like the carpet was yanked out from under me. The bright spot is that ACCS in coordination with the Department of Education and the accrediting agency did formulate a "teach out". Under this, students who are 75% finished can complete their degrees and have them be accredited. Cannot extend beyond May 05 (do or die date).

What happens afterwards is anybody's guess. I cannot see ACCS making much money from a diploma program, and paying PhD's to be at the school. They may be riding into the sunset, only time will tell. Not sure if they have a solid plan for rebirth, they may and I am not privy to it.

North