#unaccredited

[wutbju]

Regional accrediting agencies assess what their sister organizations are doing regularly so that they are all in generally in agreement about their policies and procedures.

But each is responsible for its own wording and enforcement of those policies, of course.

The Western Association’s (WASC) Commission for Community Colleges parallels what SACSCOC says about substantive change, of course. A substantive change is “any change in the Legal Status, Form of Control, or Ownership of the Institution.” Notice, however, the example they give to illuminate the policy (page 11).

There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that Bob Jones University made a substantive change on March 1, while a candidate in SACSCOC. That’s simply a plain fact.

We’re all just waiting to see what SACSCOC does about it. We will know shortly.

[wutbju]

When will Bob Jones University hear about their accreditation status?

The SACSCOC review board meets from June 13-16, 2017. Bob Jones University expects to hear an affirmative conclusion then. Will it?

[wutbju]

That’s what Steve Pettit said to the Bob Jones University employees at the last Faculty/Staff meeting:

On the academic front, the highlight was the accreditation visit at the end of last year. Please continue to pray for a positive decision regarding our membership at the June meeting of the SACSCOC board. We will have announcements to all constituents ready to roll out within minutes of receiving the call. The Board of Trustees and the faculty/staff will be the first ones to know.

So the second week of June, a BJU representation will go before the SACSCOC board to hear BJU’s standing. 

Here’s what we know:

Bob Jones University has had SACSCOC candidacy for one year starting in June 2016.

Most SACSCOC candidates remain so for two years before acquiring accreditation.

Bob Jones University has conducted itself much more circumspectly since receiving candidacy, indicating that SACSCOC does have some sway over BJU’s interactions with alumni and the community. For this WutBJU is very, very thankful. 

But Bob Jones University has made what amounts to three substantive changes while a SACSCOC candidate -- actions strictly forbidden in the SACSCOC Principles of Accreditation. SACSCOC is aware of these substantive changes. 

In correspondence with WutBJU, Middle States considers the BJU split, ownership change, and legal status a “substantive change.” Sister agencies care a great deal about what their peers conclude.

What will happen in June? We alumni don’t know. We will find out minutes after the BJU PR department hits “send.” 

If Bob Jones University does get accreditation in June, that means that:

All the students who graduated last week are the first Bob Jones University graduates in 90 years to have a regionally accredited degree from 29614. That’s a big deal.

Bob Jones University will continue to conduct its Public Relations department in a much more professional way as it has since November 4, 2016. That’s a very good thing. No more anonymous phone calls to other local colleges. No more targeting of minors in local public schools and churches. No more anonymous comments from Randy Page. 

We alumni have recourse. The police don’t listen. GRACE didn’t change anything. But the SACSCOC will be checking on BJU regularly. That’s a very good thing as well.

So will the BJU Public Relations staff have the right email all ready to send to its constituency on June 16? We have 5 weeks to see.

[wutbju]

What do Bob Jones University students learn from the EVP for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer, Gary Weier?

That Harry Potter is not for Christians. 

[wutbju]

Oh. So “jumping up and down” and hugs and skipping the board’s approval is all not connected to SACSCOC granting accreditation? 

Alrighty then. . . .

[wutbju]

Gary Weier sent out an email to the Bob Jones University employees yesterday stating:

As I mentioned in Faculty/Staff Meeting last Friday, BJU will appear before the SACSCOC Board in mid-June when the Board will determine whether to grant us regional accreditation and make us a SACSCOC member. People off campus are not generally aware of this, and you can help us inform our constituents of this upcoming decision. Attached is information—talking points—which you can share with others between now and June to make them aware of this important pending decision. Also attached is a Q&A with supplemental information. Please help us spread the word as you have you have opportunity to do so.

So Gary thinks we are not aware of the accreditation timeline, and he’s giving us -- through the BJU employees -- the facts he wants us to know. 

Here’s the thing though: there’s nothing new in these two documents. Oh, this rhetorician can find some turns of phrase that are odd and revealing, but really there is no news. 

I’ll catalog them all under the tag, FAQ 3.0, for future reference.

I’m betting that this is an internal PR tactic to distract the employees from the terrible morale after the lay-offs and nothing more. Reports continue to filter through from employees about how crushed the faculty and staff are. 

And this is what the EVP gives them? This? 

We’ll get a chance to eye-ball it here. But remember: Dr. Weier wants us -- “people off campus” -- to know these talking points especially. Not about the lay-offs, but this. 

[wutbju]

[wutbju]

Boom.

It’s as plain as day. SACSCOC doesn’t allow substantive change during the application process or the candidacy process. Read it for yourself.

Some examples of “substantive changes”?

They can’t have asked for approval before or during this process as both Steve Pettit and Randy Page claim. That’s not how SACSCOC’s rules work. They can either make this substantive change before applying or they can wait until after accreditation is granted. 

But SACSCOC’s own rules are explicit. 

Applicant and candidate institutions may not initiate substantive change.

Not.