American Association of Christian Counselors' Endorsement of SCUPS?

On the website of the American Association of Christian Counselors, SCUPS is listed among the selection of schools. Is this an endorsement?

www.aacc.net
click on schools/seminaries

 

It certainly appears to be, especially since the cited section claims, "Listed below are some of the colleges, seminaries, and graduate schools that AACC affirms and supports" [emphasis added].

AACC is a fairly credible organization (and one which I have endorsed in the past), and all of the schools on their list except SCUPS carry a recognized DOE-approved accreditation. SCUPS' web site indicates no curricula in Christian counselling at all, nor does the school purport to have a Christian basis.

So how did such an endorsement come to be? Probably, quite simply: someone fucked up.* And perhaps at AACC, the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.

My recommendation: Send a letter or objection directly to AACC president Tim Clinton. He's a credible guy with excellent credentials himself, and he may not even know about the SCUPS listing.
__________________

* I've been a good boy in recent posts. I deserved that one.

 

From my past association with Tim Clinton, at Liberty and AACC, there is no way he would knowingly endorse SCUPS. I will send an email to him at the AACC. As was said, Tim is a credible guy with excellent credentials and I don't think he would endorse any school that was not accredited, especially one that didn't have a theological curriculum.

 

Very strange.....I received a spam marketing e-mail from SCUPS about 15 minutes before I looked at this thread.


Bruce

 

Fate?

1. You receive a spam which promotes SCUPS.
2. Within 15 minutes you see this thread regarding SCUPS.

Sounds like some "higher entity" could be directing you into a SCUPS doctoral program, Bruce.

 

Has anyone found an answer as to why SCUPS got on the AACC endorsed list?

All the other schools are actually accredited and it is not like SCUPS is a BJU.

North

 

In an e-mail response from AACC I was told that the schools advertise at their own initiative, which I assume means they pay for the advertisement.

 

I do not know that I like that answer. As Steve said, AACC is a credible organization. If I recall the web site actually endorses the programs and asks we support them. This implies less of a case of paid advertisement and more of a case of having checked these programs out and endorsing them.

It is a concern that they would appear to endorse an unaccredited program. My feeling is that for credibility purposes they ought to stick to accredited schools (by USDoE/CHEA recognized agencies or foreign equivalents).

North

 

The website does just that, North. And I agree that with your position.

 

I sent an email to Tim Clinton asking for an explanation.....not only have I not received an explanation I have not received an reply. Such will certainly jade my opinion of AACC and limit my support by non-attendance at their future seminars.

 

As a member of AACC (since 99) I don't think the organization is promoting worthless schools. From every indication AACC has sought to position itself as a legitimate and credible association of Christian counselors. The administration, board of directors and those persons utilized for instruction/training, etc., are individuals with legitimate credentials in their fields of study.

Perhaps the reason SCUPS is advertised is that their Ph.D.'s do qualify one to sit for the licensure exam in California. I'm not sure as to why/how SCUPS made the list, but this one item shouldn't affect the integrity of AACC.

 

1) Is SCUPS really a "worthless school"? Its PhD and PsyD degrees apparently ARE accepted by the California Psychologist Examiners and, as we all know, its JD grads can actually become lawyers.

2) Do ministers involved in Christian Counselling even NEED a state psychology or counselling license?

Nosborne, JD

 

My point exactly, Nosborne. While SCUPS is not RA, it does meet the need of a small segment of people. So, just because AACC lists one non-RA school, IMO, doesn't stain its credibility.

 

Nosborne & Russell,
If this is the case, Tim Clinton, or someone acting on his behalf needs to step up to the plate and say as much. Simply ignoring emails does not establish credibility, at least not in my opinion.