Application to Accreditation: How long?

A 33 year old DL religious school , which frequently is herein discussed , says it two years ago applied for regional accreditation. This , approval ,it says, takes 5-7 years. In the interim a flurry of students sign on lured by the potential as school bigwigs express high optimism of a successful outcome of the application. Reminds me of how we used to chum with anchovies for barracuda and yellowtail off the san Diego shoreline. Those surface feeders raced toward the prospect of a big feed!

But just how long should we anticipate this accreditational process to take?

 

Which School???

I know of one school which was founded in 1969 (33 years ago), but for some reason the name isn't coming to me. IIRC, though, it is somewhere near Indiana.

 

Re: Which School???

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So, is seven years about what it takes Russell, or is there more hyperbolic hocum happening in Hoosierville?

And didn't I read Bear's opinion that the longer a school exists w-out RA the less likely it is to achieve RA?

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Assuming thaat the school that is being indirectly referred to is Trinity College and Seminary, the following information is available on the North Central Association's website:

The period of candidacy is four years. In exceptional situations, the Commission at its discretion may extend candidacy to a fifth year.

I.A.1.b at

http://www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org/resources/policies/edinstia.html


Trinity C&S does not appear on NCA's 2002-3 visit-list, nor is the NCA soliciting comments from the community about Trinity, both of which are normal parts of the preaccreditation, accreditation and reaccreditation processes. The candidacy process is initiated with a site visit, and site visits are repeated every two years until accreditation is achieved or candidacy terminated.

http://www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org/resources/visitlists/02-03cycle.html

 

My understanding is that the hard part is gaining candidacy. That very rarely has a school failed during their candidacy. True?

 

I've said this a lot, so I aplogize, but....

Only two DL schools in the past 22 years have advanced to candidacy, yet failed to reach accreditation: Prometheus College and the International Graduate School. Prometheus disappeared mysteriously in 1981, while IGS called it quits in 1987.

The only DL school that achieved RA and subsequently lost it--to my shaky memory--is Beacon College.

 

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Helpful, thanks.

Looks like at least the 5 yrs is reasonable,

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I especially like criterion 5 which requires the institution to honestly represent itself in its catalogues and other statements.

Wonder if NCA will agree with Trinity that the Trinity degrees are "world class, world accredited, and accepted world wide?"

Russell, perhaps Trinity will enlist your services as an apologist for the veracity of their claim? You know, Origen had his Celsus, andyou have your "Bill"!

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One would need to be an expert in Apologesis , i.e., the art of offering a defense based upon correct exegesis, to qualify for the position, Bill. After exegeting Trinity's program one would then need to apologize, right?

And the Origen/Celsus relationship is different with us. I actually have an affinity for our eclectic dialogue.

 

Surprised?

Prometheus sounds like the name of a mythical Greek god. Perhaps if the school rose from the ashes, Prometheus could form an alliance with Argosy and Excelsior.

The Prometheus/Argosy/Excelsior Graduate Union.

I kinda like it!

 

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Perhaps Trinity , as it offered a PhD, heretofore, in apologetics, could create a graduate degree which specializes in the defense of that school. That specialization might be well called "apoplexology", i.e.," the science of offering a defense without the power to think, feel, or move!" Perchance you should change majors from "practical theology" to "impractical theology" and go for it?

 

Minimum.

There would need to be a site-visit before Trinity C&S was granted candidacy. No visits are scheduled with them during the 2002-3 academic year. So the earliest a visit might be scheduled would be in 2003-4. That means that it's perhaps a year and a half off, if it ever happens at all. Then add four years, plus whatever time delays there are making the decisions.

But this is all speculative at this point. Apart from some anecdotal stories on Degreeinfo, there still isn't any hard evidence that Trinity C&S is making any progress towards RA at all.

 

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But Bill, what "hard evidence" would there be?

Dr Frey, a Trinity official, just about has assured , via the trinity forum, that NCA is "on the way" (my words).

I'm sorry to beat this to death, but I feel for those , who in my opinion any way, are duped. Perhaps Trinity will get RA. But perhaps it won't.

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I shall keep this in mind, as one never knows what tomorrow holds.

 

Probably the first thing would be the scheduling of a site visit by the NCA.

Then if that was successful, the listing of Trinity as a recognized candidate for accreditation.

 

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Bill, Russell, North, and?

What i find strange about Trinity and the NCA is that Trinity is so tight lipped about any particulars. They say they cannot talk about how they're doing etc. Thanks to Simon on another thread i just scanned a school's site (NCU?) who could so talk and gave a detailed account replete with dates and definitions re its attempt at NCA accreditation. to compound my confusion is bill's provided info above showing that Trinity does not have a date yet for visitation, I think that's what I understood. But in a recent exchange on the Trinity forum it was said that Trinity applied two years ago. So why no visit date yet ?

Does this seem peculiar or how am I misunderstanding these data?

 

Thank you very much Rich for the most delicious tidbits of information. I'm sorry that I'd missed it previously.

Regards,
Bill

 

Bill,

John Warwick Montgomery once emailed me about Trinity. I had asked him about the Liverpool thing. He thought it was great. I asked about RA. He assured me that Trinity would be RA in 5-7 years but couldn't discuss the details (party line?). I signed up on his testimony, but with a 50% tuition "scholarship" I didn't send as much as most. After I was "registered" and learned that I had to buy 2 of his books, I began to be suspicious of his motives ($). When I compared the cost of the books with the quality of the books, my suspicions grew. Trinity published them and didn't do it with much of an eye to quality, unfortunately was not reflected in the price they charged me. The books were dated and horrible. It made me wonder if his (JWM) connection with Trinity is simply $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ( I did once read that the President of Trinity makes well into the 6 digits, not bad for an unaccredited school when compared with the salary of presidents at the large Universities).

I don't question the 5 years, both schools I graduated from are now accredited, but not so at the time I attended. LABC (now The Master's College) was in the process and gained it in my senior year. It was on a probationary status for the 1st 4 years and applied to any degree issued the previous 4 years. They were not quiet about the process, we knew the details. Same thing with the seminary I attended. They were vocal all the way through. I have always had my suspicions.

JIm

 

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Welcome to this forum Jim. I'm trying to understand Trinity's refusal to discuss where they are in the process. As another Bill here said Trinity's onsite visit is not on the 02-03 NCA calendar. yet another school details their progress and past steps in accreditation.

Folks, my pal Jim here is a good bud! But don't cross exegetical swords with him! Hope your education goes well,

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Jim,

Is this the same entity as Master's Divinity School?

Just kidding!

Welcome to the forum!