Association of Christian Colleges and Theological Schools

:"Not to be confused with the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, the primary accreditation agency for North American seminaries, nor with the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools."

Association of Christian Colleges and Theological Schools, ACCTS, is a Christian theological "approval" board that is not recognized as an educational accreditor by the United States Department of Education (USDE) or government. It is located in the state of Louisiana. [http://web.archive.org/web/20070526051002/www.californiapacific.org/h/admin.html "Administration" on California Pacific School of Theology website] , archived May 26, 2007] Gary Wilson is the current president.

ACCTS holds no government license or official recognition. [ [http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Non-accreditedSchools_78090_7.pdf State of Michigan] , March 3, 2008; lists ACCTS as an unapproved accrediting body] [ [http://www.osac.state.or.us/oda/accreditation.html State of Oregon Office of Degree Authorization] includes ACCTS on list of "'Accrediting' entities not recognized by the State of Oregon"] . In the United States, recognition by the USDE or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) confers an academic legitimacy on accrediting organizations. [ [http://www.chea.org/pdf/fund_accred_20ques_02.pdf The Fundamentals of Accreditation] , Council for Higher Education Accreditation, September 2002] A higher education institution must be accredited by an agency recognized by either the USDE or CHEA in order for the institution and its students to be eligible for government grants and student financial assistance. [ [http://www.chea.org/pdf/CHEA_USDE_AllAccred.pdf Recognized Accrediting Organizations (as of October 2007)] , Council for Higher Education Accreditation]

In 2004, a correspondent or associate level membership could be obtained in six weeks for $100 and $200 respectively. The group charged an annual fee of $300 for "full institutional approval", which it says included a site visit and approval by an evaluation team. [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20040615134832/www.accts.cc/levels_of_membership_and_cost.htm Levels of Membership and Cost ] ]

History

The ACCTS website says that it was founded as an approval agency for those schools which for various reasons may choose not to affiliate with a regional or other professional accrediting agency because the qualifications and standards of "such accrediting agencies may run counter to the convictions and purposes of Christian schools" and because the "external interference with internal policies by organizations or agencies with different goals and purposes than the Christian university, college or seminary may prove to be non-productive".Fact|date=March 2008

In 2005, Tyndale Theological Seminary (which was at that time an ACCTS member institution) was fined $173,000 for issuing degrees without meeting state standards and calling itself a "seminary" without having accreditation. [ [http://www.kvue.com/news/state/stories/120304ccjrkvuestateseminary.8f53085.html News for Austin, Texas] , KVUE.com, December 3, 2004] . Charges were dismissed in 2007 when the Texas Supreme Court ruled that the state government lacked legal jurisdiction over religious education or training. [Terrence Stutz, [http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/religion/stories/090107dntexseminaries.2f1ab91.html State can't restrict seminaries, Texas high court rules] , "Dallas Morning News", September 1, 2007]

Requirements

The requirements for approval by ACCTS are: proof of the solicitation of new students, the transfer of credits, "admission policies and procedures," a "financial policy," "learning experience," a "limitation" on life credit, a library, student records, "staff," and "facilities." [http://web.archive.org/web/20040615134347/www.accts.cc/evaluation_criteria.htm]

chools approved by ACCTS

* California Pacific School of Theology (aka Pacific School of Theology)
* Louisiana Baptist University
* Pacific International University "(aka Pacific College Incorporated and Pacific College of Graduate Studies)"
* Pacific National University
* Tyndale Theological Seminary

ee also

* Educational accreditation
* List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning
* List of unrecognized accreditation associations of higher learning

References