#faq 3.0

[wutbju]

BJU Accreditation Q & A: For use January 2017 through the June 2017 SACSCOC Board Meeting (FAQ 3.0)

Also available here. 

1.    Who is SACSCOC?

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia), Latin America and other international sites approved by SACSCOC that award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral degrees.

2.    What have been the steps in the accreditation process so far?

The BJU Board of Trustees voted unanimously on December 2, 2011, to pursue regional accreditation. The application was delivered to SACSCOC on October 2, 2014. A SACSCOC candidacy committee visited the BJU campus in January 2016, and SACSCOC granted BJU candidacy status on June 16, 2016. BJU delivered a second round of compliance documentation to SACSCOC in the fall of 2016, and the SACSCOC accreditation committee assessed BJU’s compliance to accreditation standards during a campus visit in November 2016. This committee will make a recommendation regarding BJU’s accreditation to the SACSCOC Board of Trustees, and BJU will appear before this Board in June 2017 for a decision. 

3.    What does accreditation signify?

Accreditation signifies that a university has (1) a mission appropriate to higher education, (2) resources, programs, and services sufficient to accomplish and sustain that mission, (3) clearly specified educational objectives that are consistent with its mission and appropriate to the degrees it offers, and (4) success in achieving its stated objectives.

4.    What is the difference between national accreditation (TRACS) and regional accreditation (SACSCOC)?

Both SACSCOC and TRACS (Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools) grant institutional accreditation and are approved by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Regional accreditation through SACSCOC is more widely recognized by some graduate schools and companies and government agencies that may require a regionally accredited degree for employment.

5.    Is applying for regional accreditation a reversal of your previous position?

Yes. After a thorough review, both the Board of Trustees and the executive leadership of the University determined regional accreditation could enhance the delivery of our mission. As evidenced by the experiences of other colleges of like faith and practice, we believe that we can not only deliver our faith-based mission with integrity but also increase the quality of our total educational experience through regional accreditation.

6.    You say that SACSCOC will not cause you to violate any principle for which you stand? What are some of those principles?

SACSCOC accreditation today is mission-driven. We would not have to modify key principles such as our Bible-based lifestyle policies for faculty, staff and students; hiring policies or our biblical worldview.

7.    Should BJU receive regional accreditation through SACSCOC, will it continue to maintain national accreditation through TRACS?

Yes. Both organizations help us in our aim to strengthen the delivery of our mission. Both also help us enhance educational quality and student learning as well as infuse a biblical worldview into all we do here.

8.    Does BJU currently have any other accreditations or state recognitions of specific programs?

Our engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. The teacher preparation program holds state accreditation and the nursing program has full approval from the South Carolina Board of Nursing.

9.    How does candidacy status affect current students?

Candidacy status demonstrates the recognition of the quality of a BJU education by a regional accreditation body. Through gaining candidacy status, BJU has demonstrated compliance with the requirements and standards required in the application and that its compliance has been verified by a candidacy committee which reviewed our documentation and evidence and verified through interviews during its on-site visit. Candidacy status is granted for a two-year period. A college or university is expected to achieve regional accreditation within that two-year period.

10. Is accreditation retroactive?

Degrees granted by a college or university beginning January 1 during the calendar year in which SACSCOC awards accreditation are considered as coming from an institution accredited by SACSCOC.

11. Why is BJU seeking accreditation now?

Throughout its 89-year history, BJU has practiced the kind of continual improvement that characterizes accredited institutions. For the sake of its students and alumni, BJU believes the time has come for it to seek regional accreditation as well. Recognition of the quality of its programs and degrees through regional accreditation should afford its graduates easier access into graduate schools of their choice. In addition, regional accreditation should enable our graduates to more successfully gain employment in careers where licensure or state laws apply. Moreover, the accountability that regional accreditation affords will give parents of prospective students added confidence in the education that BJU offers their students. Finally, BJU is seeking regional accreditation in order to be recognized as a partner in the higher education community. BJU desires others in that community to recognize the quality of its curriculum and faculty.

Some of the information provided in this document was quoted or paraphrased from the SACSCOC website and the 2012 edition of The Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement published by SACSCOC.

[wutbju]

Accreditation Talking Points: March through SACSCOC Decision in June, FAQ 3.0

Current Status

·      BJU is looking forward to appearing before the SACSCOC Board in mid-June when the Board will determine whether or not to grant BJU regional accreditation.

·      BJU completed the last major step in the multi-year process by hosting a visit by the accreditation committee last November.

·      After reviewing BJU’s extensive report, a committee came to verify that BJU provides quality instruction, support services to help students succeed and processes to ensure continual improvement.

·      In other words, it came to verify BJU actually does what it says it does.

·      The team conducted formal, scheduled interviews with over 60 faculty, staff, administrators, students and board members.

·      At the exit interview, the committee chair stated BJU had achieved a remarkable outcome.

-       She commended BJU in three areas: “our remarkable and impressive faculty and their deep commitment to BJU’s mission,” “our wonderful students,” and our clear and thorough documentation of what we do here at BJU.

-       Our SACSCOC vice president called the outcome of the visit “phenomenal” and said we should be jumping up and down.

·      While this good feedback does not ensure we will be granted accreditation in June, we are encouraged.

 Next Step

·      BJU will appear before the SACSCOC accreditation board in June and will learn at that time whether we will be granted accreditation.

 How Accreditation Will Benefit Students

·      It is third-party verification that BJU’s education meets high quality standards and has great value.

·      It could make it easier for students to transfer credits and be accepted at more graduate schools. Other colleges reviewing a transcript from BJU will know it has the regional accreditation stamp of approval.

·      It will show prospective employers of BJU students that their education met highly acceptable standards.

·      It could help students enter a profession where a regionally accredited degree and/or licensure is required.

·      It continues to provide BJU students access to federal and some state financial aid if they meet the requirements.

Caution

Avoid conveying BJU presumes it will be granted regional accreditation in June; for example, avoid phrasing such as “BJU anticipates being granted SACSCOC regional accreditation in June” or “when BJU is granted regional accreditation in June.”

[wutbju]

True. That’s what we’ve been saying. There are key differences, however. 

There’s FAQ 1.0 from January 2016.

There’s FAQ 2.0 from October 2016.

And now there’s FAQ 3.0 from March 2017.

[wutbju]

Yeah, yeah. Partner. Riiiight.

Same as before. But we all know what “partnering” with BJU looks like. Either as a donor:

Or as an employee:

[wutbju]

Ah! Cute.

The accountability that regional accreditation afford will give parents of prospective students added confidence in the education that BJU offers their students. 

When it comes to outsiders such as employers and graduate schools, BJU changed the verb to “should” -- indicating a guideline or a recommendation, not a guarantee.

But when it comes to the parents of prospective students, Bob Jones University has no qualms of articulating full bore contractual obligation. 

BJU has to be careful with outsiders. But with its own constituency, it promises the world. 

[wutbju]

Ah. This is an interesting change. The basic phrasing is the same as in FAQ 1.0 and FAQ 2.0. 

Except for one very important word. Look at it. The earlier versions say this:

Recognition of the quality of its programs and degrees through regional accreditation will afford its graduates easier access into graduate schools of their choice. 

This version in March 2017 says this:

Recognition of the quality of its programs and degrees through regional accreditation should afford its graduates easier access into graduate schools of their choice. 

Huh. 

Legally, “should” is more flexible than “will.”

Should “denotes a guideline or recommendation whenever noncompliance with the specification is permissible.” When used as an auxiliary verb, it expresses “a conditional or contingent act or state … or moral obligation.”

“Will,” on the other hand, is “a contractual obligation.”

Interesting, BJU. 

[wutbju]

Throughout its 89-year history...

89 years? That’s strange. When did Weier write this?

For January 2015, Gary said 88-years:

For the FAQ 2.0 last October 2016, he said 90-year. Odd. Really odd.

...BJU has practiced the kind of continual improvement...

Really? Like what? Becoming MORE Young-Earth Creationist? Allowing students and employees to attend MORE kinds of churches? Expanding more programs? Increasing salaries?

...that characterizes accredited institutions....

Except it’s not. This is similar to manufacturers in the anti-union South insisting that they treat their employees well enough that they don’t need a union. That’s missing the point.

For the sake of its students and alumni...

Current students who will graduate in the calendar year accreditation is granted will benefit from this. Alumni will not.

Bob Jones University will surely benefit, however. That’s what this really means: Benefit$.

...BJU believes the time has come for it to seek regional accreditation as well.

Just like the time had come for BJU to state their regret about associating with segregationists. And the time had come for BJU to investigate their underservice to victims of campus sexual assault. 

So typical. 

[wutbju]

Gary Weier is accurate here. 

As it stands right now, if you graduated from Bob Jones University in December 2016 or earlier, you have an unaccredited degree.