Can't get diploma from ABCS/ACCS

My husband attended (through distance learning) American Bible College and Seminary (ABCS/ACCS). He completed all his course work just as the school was closing down. He can not get his degree. Nobody we contact seem to want to help us. Are any of you in this situation? Have you gotten your degree?

Here is the (old) site for the school:

http://www.abcs.edu/

Thanks,

X

 

Contact their former accreditor for help and assistance.

Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools
P.O. Box 328, Forest, Virginia 24551
Phone (434) 525-9539 • Fax (434) 525-9538
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Re: Re: Can't get diploma from ABCS/ACCS

Thank you very much for this information. I really appreciate it. We will certainly contact Hillsdale.

X

 

It's interesting that the web site shows a picture of a stately-looking building on its home page, as if that was a building on the actual ACCS campus.

A sign for the ACCS "campus" still exists in Oklahoma City. I drove by it not long ago. It's located in a business park not far from Will Rogers World Airport.

 

Yeah, I've seen it too. I live in Oklahoma City.

I got a reply to my email to TRACS:

We are going to do what is in this letter.

Thank you everybody for your helpful advice. I'll let you know what happens.

X

 

Howdy, neighbor!

 

Howdy!

X

 

Congratulations X Evolutionist, seems like you now have a route to get the transcript showing accreditation/graduation.

The ACCS staff trying to help seem to be quite dedicated volunteers. I really...really....had to work to get my transcript and diploma. They were trying just overwhelmed at the end. Whatever one can say about the cause of their demise and administrative mismanagement...they were trying (Dr. Simmons, Beville, etc).

To whomever mentioned the building on the ABCS web site....this is not ACCS trying to mislead anyone. The abcs web site is very strange. They seem to be trying to distance themselves (to what end I am not sure) from ACCS when they were the same school.
(same staff, etc). I half wonder if this is not some alumni coming up with a marketing plan to start his or her own school?? The site has programs link (nothing on it), etc. In my opinion it has rather bizarre sounding statements (illustrious graduates of ABCS and acting like it morphed into ACCS). Would love to know who is behind the ABCS site??

At any rate, I feel sorry for thos who tired to finishwith ACCS but did not make the deadline of May 05. No degree and likely some difficulty getting a school to take all of your transfer credits. Most schools have limits (especially at the graduate level). If you got all the way to the ARP (dissertation) but did not quite get it finished you would likely end up starting over or pretty close in another doctoral program. Very tough, frustrating, etc.

I wonder is poor Dr. Hambrick has had upset grads showing up at his church.

Good luck!

North

 

Whoa . . . I have been out of the loop for a while. But I was delightfully surprised to see this thread, assuming . . .

Is this the ABCS that was formerly the University of Biblical Studies, which at one time couldn't even issue degrees from its home state of Oklahoma?

The one that, prior to that, had been founded in 1955 as "Modular Education?"

The one that wrecked the buffet at the Harrow Club?

(Oooooops . . . that was Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop. But I digress . . .)

The one that I classified as a degree mill from Day 1?*

The one that was granted candidacy status (and ultimately, it would seem, full accreditation) by TRACS, which raised more questions about the credibility - or lack thereof - of TRACS itself?

The one that even managed to lose TRACS accreditation before ultimately shutting down the coop?

What a hoot!
________________________

Here's what I wrote about them in the last edition of Name It & Frame It in 1995:

"Claiming recognition by the American Accrediting Association of Theological Institutions and the American Accrediting Educational Association of Christian Schools, neither of which are legitimate agencies, the University of Biblical Studies (UBS) was originally founded in 1955 as "Modular Education." Their 22-page catalog states, "Participating colleges award Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctor of Ministry Degrees," but they do not name the participating colleges. In response to my inquiry, their academic dean wrote, "Presently we are using schools in California and Hawaii as educational institutions to graduate our students. Students may also be graduated from Baptist Christian College and University in Shreveport, Louisiana [see listing in this chapter]. If graduated through schools in California or Hawaii, the degree will read the University of Biblical Studies with the address of either California or Hawaii." Think about it: UBS is located in Oklahoma, but they can't even grant degrees in their own state. Instead, they use schools in California, Hawaii, and Louisiana, which have traditionally had some of the loosest standards in the nation regarding academic institutions. The dean's response indicated that they use this set-up because the state of Oklahoma requires residency in order for a college to graduate students. (He neglected to mention, however, that one of the most respected non-resident secular programs in the nation is the Competency-Based Degree Program based at the regionally accredited Oklahoma City University.) There is no list of teaching faculty in the UBS catalog, but there are eleven "administrative staff" members listed with multiple degree titles, the source of which are not identified. In February 1992 they were granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Transnational Association of Christian Schools, a questionable accreditor recognized at this point by the U.S. Department of Education but not by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (see discussion at the beginning of this chapter and in Chapter 3). Unfortunately, this tends to speak poorly of TRACS rather than positively of UBS. (Why TRACS has granted candidacy to a school that can't even grant degrees in its home state is beyond me.) Advertises or has advertised in Charisma, Christianity Today, Ministries Today, and Moody Magazine."

N.B. This was the scoop on them at the time of publication. TRACS, of course, has since gained recognition by what since became CHEA (formerly CORPA). I'm still not impressed with TRACS either.

 

Jawellnofine

After spending a week at ACCS, I noticed it was the worst-run school I had ever seen. Too much "hon" and not enough brains. (I'm not your "hon", m'dear. Kill your hairdresser. Farrah-dos in this ýear of grace? Quease release me...) Way too much foul cologne, too. Allergy hell. The outdoor elevator and Japanese garden were pretty cool, though.

But I absitively fell in love with Oklahoma City. What a spectacular great place!

 

Re: Jawellnofine

It's odd how many people who grew up here seem to have nothing but bad things to say about OKC, while those who are newcomers seem to love it.

I have not lived in OKC long, but it is home.

BTW, I have always been amazed at the seemingly large number of colleges in the Oklahoma City area. In the neighborhood where I live, there are four nearby that I can think of off the top of my head. By nearby, I mean within a 2 or 3 mile area, and that's not including the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Southwestern College (branch campus), University of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma Christian University, Oklahoma City Community College, Oklahoma City University and University of Phoenix (B&M campus).

 

Would this not also raise questions about the credibility - or lack thereof - of the US Dept of Education, since this esteemed body has placed its approval on TRACS?

 

Re: Re: Jawellnofine

We haven't lived here long either, only nine years. It is beautiful here.

Yeah, I noticed that there are a lot of colleges here, too. And they all have an "O" and a "U" in it. It's confusing to keep them all straight.

X

 

Thank you everybody!

Update:

I wrote a letter to the address that I got on this thread and we heard back today. I want to let you all know that my hubby got his degree confirmed in a letter today. He has his bachelor's. I don't know if we can get a diploma, but this is a letter with an official seal saying he has his degree.

Thanks everybody!

X

 

"Would this not also raise questions about the credibility - or lack thereof - of the US Dept of Education, since this esteemed body has placed its approval on TRACS?"

Or many of the schools accredited by it? (Recently Bob Jones University received its accreditation from TRACS... This after it refused to seek accreditation for years. BJU's no diploma mill, and has a number of good programs, but it is not your normal college...)