I am Thankful for a Good Accreditation Visit

For the last four years I have direct our seminary’s efforts for reaffirmation of accreditation. We are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS). Accreditation with each must be reaffirmed every ten years. I directed the efforts ten years ago (it actually started 15 years ago). SACS requires a “compliance audit” prepared by the school’s administrators (which I had to coordinate and compile) and the development of a comprehensive Quality Enhancement Plan (for which I had limited involvement). A committee from SACS came last April and recommended reaffirmation of accreditation. Last December the SACS Commission acted to reaffirm our accreditation for ten years.

ATS requires a comprehensive institutional “self-study” conducted by committees and compiled into a single report. I directed the process, wrote several chapters, compiled and edited the report. The report was mailed in late February. A committee with members from different ATS schools studied the report and came on campus Sunday through yesterday morning. They interviewed members of the Board, administrators, faculty, staff, students, and alumni.

I am thankful their preliminary report was very positive. They had many good things to say about our school, and made some suggestions and recommendations for improvement. We will have to officially respond to the recommendations. I had predicted we would have three to five. They gave us three. This is extremely good. Most importantly they are recommending our accreditation be reaffirmed for ten years. Their report will have to be confirmed by the ATS Commission this summer before it is official.

It was a very good committee and they were very helpful. I am hopeful this is my last time to direct our reaffirmation efforts. I am thankful both efforts were successful. I am very thankful my role is complete.

Cleveland, Tennessee
April 15, 2010
JDJ