Ok, let me get this staright. He will NOT tell which schools will use ACI, but WILL refer people to member schools. He wants cash and room/board and a car for two days (nice little get aways). Now the group at the Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jersulem is a discounted trip sponsered by ACI? I don't think I would want to bring up TEACHER Acreditation from him in a job interview. But hey if he can get some paid vacation trips... Dan
The scary thing about this is that I think these people are totally serious. The usefullness of ACI accredidation is certainly questionable and most likely worthless. I would be interested to know where the good Doctor's Ph.D. is from, as well as all the other "doctors" who went to the 2001 conference. Strange indeed.
I bet the good Doctor (Steve Levicoff) knows the answer to that question. ACI has an interesting history which you can read about in Bear's Guide. It is a crack up. ACI accreditation was one thing that changed my mind about the Graduate Theological Foundation. They were unaccredited and surrounded themselves with the trappings of Oxford University. They had venerable Don's teaching at the Foundation, etc. They mostly catered to a Catholic/Episcopalian liberal crowd. Steve did not have a high opinion of them but I figured that even though they were unaccredited they seemed respectable. The ACI accreditation put a new light on things. In my opinion they were better off with none as at least they could appear to be taking the high road. North
Indeed they are! Providing quality non-governmental accreditation for religious schools is totally serious business. And for an annual fee of $25.00 one may obtain and maintain a beautiful "Teaching Certificate." Guaranteed to add prestige to one's CV, and enhance the decorum of the room in which it is proudly hung. Russell
A couple of ACI tidbits: Last year, while making a routine check of their website, I found ACI had disappeared, leaving only a message from their ISP. Several days later there was still no ACI, so I emailed the ISP and asked if they knew what had happened. They responded to the effect that ACI's bill had not been paid, but they were sure it was an oversight. Sure enough, a week or so later, the website was back up. Entertaining as the site is, it was more comical when the front page featured a picture of their facility, which is in a metal building of the type referred to as a "pole-barn" hereabouts. Also, the "Your Questions Answered" page used to feature a picture of the accrediting team that looked as if they just got off the Beverly Hillbillies' truck. The rest of the pictures from the series taken at the conference can be viewed at http://www.accreditnow.com/images/conf/conf1.jpg and stepping through 13 in the "conf1" part of the address. At one time I had Dr. Scheel's alma mater noted somewhere. I'll try and locate it. ------------------ Bill Gossett
At one time I had Dr. Scheel's alma mater noted somewhere. I'll try and locate it. ----------------------------------------- Try no more. When not engaged in the weighty business of accrediting, he can be found at http://www.lighthouse.edu "He graduated from high school at the Jesus Name Christian School, Stuttgart in 1966, Aenon Bible College in 1970; B.A. from Central Baptist College, Conway, AR in 1977; M.Div. From Luther Rice Seminary, 1978; Ph.D. Toledo Bible College and Seminary, 1980. He is presently working on a D.Phil. at Oxford Graduate School."
Perhaps the team had dressed down that day Bill, so they could really get serious about the details of the on-site visit: 9:00, Arrive at the university 9:15-11:00, Doughnuts & Coffee 11:00-11:30, Dialogue with administration/faculty (all 3 of them) 11:30-12:00, Bathroom break 12:00-2:00, Lunch at Mom & Pops Restaurant 2:00-3:00, Nap time 3:00-4:30, Carpet Golf and refreshments 4:30-5:00, Photo session of ACI receiving accreditation fee check from school. Whew! Another day of work is done, and the 169 school has non-governmental ACI accreditation. Russell
Isn't Toledo Bible COllege and Seminary now called Trinity Bible College and Seminary (the one "accredited" by the University of Liverpool)? North
Another tidbit: ACI's address is in Beebe, Arkansas. Beebe, Arkansas is in White County. Well, there must be a tremendous demand for university accreditation in White County Arkansas, because right down the road in Bald Knob is a crude rip-off of the recognized accreditor ACICS. http://accrediting.virtualave.net/accred itation.html This outfit also offers the worthless teacher certifications. That's just a coincidence, I'm sure.
Keep in mind that ACI and the Bald Knob version of ACICS provide accreditation for schools outside the White County, Arkansas, region as well. While there is no doubt a tremendous demand for non-governmental accreditation in this expanding metropolitan area of Arkansas, there are many schools around the planet seeking substantive accreditation. White County, it seems, provides a home base for such agencies as ACI and ACICS to have a global influence. Russell
