West Coast Bible Texas South African Accreditation

Discussion in 'Accreditation Discussions (RA, DETC, state approva' started by b4cz28, Jun 22, 2017.

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  1. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    So perhaps this minimal level of due diligence should be performed before we declare it to be a fraud next time?

    The first was so easily explainable (that the school's HQ is in SA) that I'm a bit confused as to how you could possibly try to write it off as a trivial detail. The second, while certainly an opinion to which you are entitled, basically leaves no room for any school to ever become RA.

    It seems these days we have two extremes; we have accreditation doesn't matter at all versus accreditation is the only thing that matters. But now we're also starting to see non-academic training making a resurgence in terms of employer acceptance. So, perhaps, we can find a happy place somewhere in the middle.
     
    Michael Burgos likes this.
  2. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Black or white is sooo much easier AND it's much more fun to get all strident with everything.:soapbox:
     
  3. heirophant

    heirophant Well-Known Member

    I'm only guessing, but it might conceivably have something to do with enabling WCBC&S to qualify for Texas postsecondary education licensing.

    Scroll down to 'subchapter G' here:

    EDUCATION CODE CHAPTER 61. TEXAS HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD

    I'm curious whether the Dallas branch of this thing has all of the necessary TX approvals.
     
  4. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Is this what you need to see, Heirophant? The good ol' "religious exemption." That's all.

    "WCBCS has received a letter of authorization to operate in the state of Texas and to offer degrees in religious studies. Additionally, WCBCS has obtained authorization from the Texas Workforce Commission to operate in the state of Texas. Also, on October 3, 2011, WCBCS obtained a letter of exemption from the Texas Workforce Commission as granted under Texas Education Code, Section 132.002(a)(2). See the letter here:"

    http://static.squarespace.com/static/5006cb3dc4aa3dba77394b45/t/500ace85e4b016a023c12551/1342885509552/

    J.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 27, 2017
  5. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Well, I do now. Here it is: 8528 Koni St, Tsakane, Brakpan, 1548, Gauteng, South Africa

    J.
     
  6. Michael Burgos

    Michael Burgos Active Member

    West Coast Bible College & Seminary (WCBCS) is now an accreditation candidate with DEAC (see here). From the looks of it, a couple of site visits have been completed and the school made some substantial changes to curricula, and some changes regarding prerequisites. For example, WCBCS is now requiring a 60 credit-hour graduate degree for entry into their DMin.
     
  7. Garp

    Garp Well-Known Member

    It appears they are serious about obtaining accreditation. One correction is that they don't have "candidacy" as a status but I get what you mean.
     
  8. Michael Burgos

    Michael Burgos Active Member

    Right, I don't think DEAC has a candidacy status, but they applied and are pretty far into the process. Btw, would you explain how candidacy status works with the other religious NA? I struggle to grasp it insofar as what it means for recognition especially since some schools who obtain candidacy at say TRACS or ABHE are listed on the CHEA website. IMO, for those seeking to get an NA degree from WCBCS, now would be the time before a price increase.
     
  9. Garp

    Garp Well-Known Member

    Not sure why DEAC never had a "candidacy" status. For the most part those that reach candidacy achieve full accreditation. And yes, they will likely raise Tuition as accreditation is expensive to obtain and maintain. For someone wanting the degree and with a limited budget it probably makes sense to enroll and hopefully graduate with an accredited degree.
     
  10. newsongs

    newsongs Active Member

    A great opportunity for eventual DEAC school.
     
    Michael Burgos likes this.
  11. Garp

    Garp Well-Known Member

    I agree. Occasionally, there are opportunities as with NCU Doctorates where you get in on the ground floor and get it inexpensively as they progress towards accreditation. I believe someone here had that experience with Northcentral (NCU).
     
    Michael Burgos likes this.
  12. Dustin

    Dustin Well-Known Member

    Walden started offering an MS in Data Science which was initially unaccredited so you could have completed as few as 3 and as many as 18 if I'm remembering correctly, based on their timeline for accreditation. The courses would be free until they got financial aid approval. I ended up not going with them. They got approval pretty quick so it would have been an expensive gamble.

    Edit: Unaccredited is not the right word. Unapproved for financial aid.
     
  13. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    One of the applicants (DEAC doesn't have candidacy) is Agora University, in Northern Virginia. They have religious exemption to licensure (they're an Orthodox bible college, apparently), which is interesting to me because I didn't realize DEAC would accredit schools that didn't have a state license.
     
    Dustin likes this.
  14. That's interesting.
     
  15. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    In my opinion, and in observing them since 1979, it's because of their roots in accrediting correspondence schools teaching trades. DEAC--then the National Home Study Council--was trying to protect legitimate correspondence schools--and the general public--by setting some standards and keeping buyers from being ripped off.

    I've always wondered if the accreditation process over there was easier to get. Schools that pursued them both--DEAC and RA--always got accredited by DEAC years sooner. And for two decades no DEAC--accredited school made the leap to RA. I drew the inference that it was easier to get than regional accreditation, but not the inference that their process was inferior. The RAs were known for a long time for their hostility towards DL schools, as well as their expectation of deep finances--hard to achieve for some start-ups relying on tuition receipts.

    I don't think the tradition is helpful, and I think a candidacy period would go a long way to cutting down on the times DEAC has to pull its accreditation so soon after granting it.
     
    Remington Steele likes this.
  16. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Wouldn't Nations U. (Louisiana) be another such school, Steve? Louisiana has religious exemption and DEAC accredited Nations.
     
  17. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Come to think of it, when The Catholic Home Study Institute opened its doors in 1983 it had one course in the Apostles Creed (on cassettes) and as a Catechetical Institute, I don't believe it needed a State License. In 1986 it was accredited by DEAC (Then DETC) under its new name - Catholic Distance University. Might this be a third exception?
     
  18. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Hmm. Maybe, to both? I didn't know Nations operated under a religious exemption until its accreditation.
     
  19. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    I have no proof positive, Steve - I was asking, here. But I did check Nations' own version of its history before I posted. Nothing is said about starting off with a State License - and the State DOES have religious exemption so -- I can't find anything to disprove my assumption. If you can - I'll have learned something. That would indeed be a rare occasion. Would call for celebration, I think! :)

    And with Catholic Distance University - I'm positive the original "Catechetical Institute" would not have required a State License.
     
    Last edited: Mar 22, 2022

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