Cincinnati Christian University - Shuts Down Over Accredidation

https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/hamilton-county/cincinnati/cincinnati-christian-university-decides-not-to-fight-for-accreditation-will-close-in-2020?fbclid=IwAR0hLY2zDaKa-DQCFrB-0vQ9y6TLKwVTLtttJPa_LJDFluRDFwdDP4RPH8c

 

The phrase that catches my attention is "...failed to develop a plan for improvement." In other words, they didn't even try.

 

Just in case anyone was wondering, Cincinnati Christian University is a regionally accredited, nonprofit institution.

 

It's probably not fair to blame any one person but this Heineman guy seems in the middle of the dysfunction. From back in August . . .

https://local12.com/news/local/commission-warns-cincinnati-christian-university-that-accreditation-at-risk

 

Two items of note: First, the most well known student ever to come out of CCU was Rich Mullins, an acclaimed contemporary Christian music artist who died in a car crash several years ago. Rich had superstar status within the CCM movement. (Rich did not graduate from CCU, however - he switched to and graduated from Friends University.)

Second, the school that they have taking over, Central Christian College of the Bible in Missouri, is accredited by ABHE but is not regionally accredited. According to Wikipedia, "The school does not have regional accreditation. The school pursued regional accreditation with the HLC from 2013-2017. On July 31, 2017, the 'Central’s executive leadership team and the Board of Directors agreed to withdraw voluntarily from the process' of regional accreditation with the HLC after conversations with the HLC." (The Wikipedia references are now dead links.)

Therefore, if students stay with the school through the transition, they are trading down in terms of accreditation. According to the schools' letter to students (on their web site), they would be much safer moving to another school that has consented to take CU students on a teach-out basis, as there are some RA and very credible schools on the list. Moreover, a quick scan of the CCCB web site indicates that of 45 faculty members, only three have doctorates of any type. Looks like one sleazy school recommending another.

By way of background, CCU claimed to be affiliated with the Restoration-based Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, which has had many of the early schools that were involved in distance education. However, the CC/CoC affiliation is one that any school can claim, and more than one of them has been a degree mill.

 

Why do you think they did not try to remain independent but trade down on accreditation?

 

CCU had a strong standing in the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ for many years. One of the larger ones in the movement. Johnson University is the oldest.

 

Ouch.

Higher Learning Commission Formal Notification of Action Letter LINK

Ouch.

 

I am sure Jesus was OK with it.

 

NKU steps in

https://local12.com/news/local/nku-offers-discounts-to-cincinnati-christian-university-students

 

This is very gracious of them. The best part is the acceptance of 400 courses in transfer. It's easy to think that it's just a marketing ploy, but it won't be the first time Kentuckians have come to the aid of the Buckeye state.

 

Thanks Kiz for supporting my point. Kentucky could've held out for the entire Ohio River, but graciously gave up the majority of it, starting at the low water mark where it was established as a state in 1792 lol. After 200 years of litigation it finally ceded the river to Ohio. Imagine if that were called the Kentucky river, which it very well may have been. The riverfront might not have been near the same.

 

NKU is a faaaaaar better option for the CCU students, even if they don't yet know it.

Meanwhile, this whole sordid affair put me in a mood of schdenfreude.

 

Preparing to close . . .

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2019/11/04/cincinnati-christian-university-details-layoffs-as.html