Missional University has a nice website https://missional.university/ But given its extensive faculty and offerings has anyone heard of it?
If they have, nobody's written here about it. I checked the search-thingy. WHOIS - no clues. Site was created in 2015, updated last December. Where they bin all this time? Home is in Augusta SC according to their page. They have some fascinating, ambitious subject matter e.g. (1) "A Relationship-based Spiritual Formation Model for Adults With Intellectual Disabilities" (2) "Preparing At-Risk Foster Adolescents for Independent Living. Preparing to Age-Out of the System" ..and quite a few others, e.g. a diaspora-related article "Asians in Latin America." They say they operate on several continents -- some Faculty names reflect that diversity. They do NOT say anything about Accreditation, that I could find. So why have we never had anything about them on DI before? I simply don't know.
Hmm, Apart from a very easy looking format, nicely laid out webpage, and have some interesting info, they don't seem to have accreditation at all...
Right - so far. Further looking. Found the Accreditation page here. https://missional.university/about/missional-education/accreditation-validation-articulation-licensure/ Not accredited at present. Now "In discussion with National Accreditors." I'd like to see them make it.
The University appears to be licensed in just about every US state. License details, by State, here. https://missional.university/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/MU_State_Licensure_Information.pdf In some states, the University operates under religious exemption and in some of those states, further licensing is not required. That's indicated wherever applicable. They look like they're serious.
From Missional University: From the NYS Department of Education: Distance Education Approval Results from search of SARA for "Missional:" A review of the "Physical Presence Policy" of the Department of Education of the State of New York shows that this policy is only for institutions with a physical presence in New York. If they don't have one then the Distance Education Approval policy kicks in which would seem to apply to Missional. I'm not sure if this is an intentional misrepresentation or if someone made a mistake. But thinking you can offering programming to New York residents without any approval just didn't sound right and so I looked. It didn't sound right because it wasn't right. Not a good look for Missional. IMHO.
They have a dizzying array of programs for a new school with no accreditation. Some of it looks interesting/innovative but doctoral tuition is approx $1500 per class. Hard pass.
Right. "If it's too good to be true..." When Jesus spoke to His Disciples (Matthew 4:19) And He said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” -- I don't think He was talking about this rather peculiar kind of fishing ..
I lived Augusta, GA in the mid-'70's and visited across the state line often. North Augusta was just over the state line as I recall.
Nice looking place - Interesting. River frontage along the Savannah R. Only about 25,000 people. Pics look nice. The county (Edgefield) is home to "Murphy's Estates," the largest community of Irish Travellers in the US. The group is sometimes mis-labelled as "Gypsies." They are not Romani people, although they have some borrowed Romani words in their own language. (Can't cite - read that bit somewhere maybe 40 years ago.) Their origin is Ireland. Wiki page on them here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphys_Estates,_South_Carolina#:~ Mark Wahlberg and Julianna Margulies starred in a 1997 Movie "Traveller" about a group of Travellers in North Carolina. Many other docs and movies: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Irish_Traveller–related_depictions_and_documentaries
Good page on Irish Travellers in UK here. Yes- I remember now - their Language is called Shelta, or Gammon. The Romani admixture is described. I'm thinking The Romani was probably learned by Travellers crossing paths with Romani people in days gone by. https://www.salford.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/info-for-parents-students-and-teachers/ethnic-minorities-and-travellers/traveller-wagon-project/heritage-culture-and-language/#:~:text=Shelta%20is%20a%20language%20spoken,exclude%20outsiders%20from%20understanding%20conversations.
