Louisiana Baptist University: Difference between revisions
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== Accreditation == |
== Accreditation == |
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LBU is [[school accreditation|not accredited]] by any accreditation body recognized by its country. According to the [[US Department of Education]], unaccredited degrees and credits might not be acceptable to employers or other institutions, and use of degree titles may be restricted or illegal in some jurisdictions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ed.gov/students/prep/college/diplomamills/accreditation.html|title=Educational accreditation|publisher=[[US Department of Education]]}}</ref>{{{category|[[Category:Unaccredited institutions of higher learning]]}}} |
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The university has declared itself to be "a primarily religious institution" that "has not sought either [[regional accreditation|regional]] or national accreditation by a secular accrediting agency."<ref name="macad" /> The university is approved (not to be confused with accreditation) by the [[Baptist Bible Fellowship International]], <ref name="macad"> {{cite news | url=http://www.lbu.edu/macacademic.html | title=Academics and Vision | publisher=Louisiana Baptist University | date=2007 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2007-08-18}}</ref>, a missionary organization. It is also a member of the [[Association of Christian Schools International]] and is one of several schools with "approval" from the [[Association of Christian Colleges and Theological Schools]] (ACCTS), a Christian, non-governmental organization involved in "approving" Christian schools,{{Fact|date=December 2007}}<!-- Can't seem to find this association even on lbu.edu website --> though ACCTS is not a recognized accreditor.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.asp | title=Institutional Accreditation System | publisher=[[United States Department of Education]] |date= 2007 | first= | last= | accessdate =2007-04-11}}</ref> |
The university has declared itself to be "a primarily religious institution" that "has not sought either [[regional accreditation|regional]] or national accreditation by a secular accrediting agency."<ref name="macad" /> The university is approved (not to be confused with accreditation) by the [[Baptist Bible Fellowship International]], <ref name="macad"> {{cite news | url=http://www.lbu.edu/macacademic.html | title=Academics and Vision | publisher=Louisiana Baptist University | date=2007 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2007-08-18}}</ref>, a missionary organization. It is also a member of the [[Association of Christian Schools International]] and is one of several schools with "approval" from the [[Association of Christian Colleges and Theological Schools]] (ACCTS), a Christian, non-governmental organization involved in "approving" Christian schools,{{Fact|date=December 2007}}<!-- Can't seem to find this association even on lbu.edu website --> though ACCTS is not a recognized accreditor.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.asp | title=Institutional Accreditation System | publisher=[[United States Department of Education]] |date= 2007 | first= | last= | accessdate =2007-04-11}}</ref> |
Revision as of 10:15, 2 January 2008
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Type | Private / unaccredited |
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Established | 1973 |
President | Neal Weaver |
Academic staff | 44 |
Students | 1,100 undergraduate and graduate |
Location | , , |
Website | http://www.lbu.edu/ |
Louisiana Baptist University (LBU, originally called Baptist Christian University) is an unaccredited, conservative Christian university, founded in 1973, located in Shreveport, Louisiana.
LBU has both an on-campus program and a distance education program which primarily teaches subjects pertaining to the Bible and Baptist theology. Classes are grouped in five areas: School of Biblical Studies, School of Communications, School of Counseling, School of Christian Education, and Theological Seminary. Distance education courses are offered by mail and via web-based delivery.
Accreditation
This template must be substituted. Replace {{Template for discussion ...}} with {{subst:Template for discussion ...}}. LBU is not accredited by any accreditation body recognized by its country. According to the US Department of Education, unaccredited degrees and credits might not be acceptable to employers or other institutions, and use of degree titles may be restricted or illegal in some jurisdictions.[1] LBU currently lacks educational accreditation from any accreditation body recognized by the US Department of Education or Council on Higher Education Accreditation.[2]
The university has declared itself to be "a primarily religious institution" that "has not sought either regional or national accreditation by a secular accrediting agency."[3] The university is approved (not to be confused with accreditation) by the Baptist Bible Fellowship International, [3], a missionary organization. It is also a member of the Association of Christian Schools International and is one of several schools with "approval" from the Association of Christian Colleges and Theological Schools (ACCTS), a Christian, non-governmental organization involved in "approving" Christian schools,[citation needed] though ACCTS is not a recognized accreditor.[4]
Controversy
According to Credential Watch, ACCTS is among a list of unrecognized accreditors that "should be considered meaningless."[5] According to LBU, it undergoes a semi-annual examination by an independent review committee of ministers and educators and is reviewed three times a year by the National Board of Directors of the Baptist Bible Fellowship International.[3]
Steve Levicoff's 1993 self-published book Name It and Frame It? listed the institution under its former name of Baptist Christian University and its "division" Louisiana Baptist Theological Seminary as degree mills.[6][unreliable source?]
Credit standards
The USDE has warned to "Beware of institutions that offer college credit and degrees based on life experience, with little or no documentation of prior learning" as a sign of a suspect school.[7] Like some accredited schools, LBU will accept a limited amount of three types of non-traditional credit: experiential learning credits, military experience credits, and credit by examination. Also by purchasing and reading a book by Chuck Missler one can "receive college credit from Louisiana Baptist University upon completion of the book."[8][failed verification] Assist News quoted Missler as explaining LBU "has offered course credits for those that do a 'reflective paper' on what they got out of it". In addition to the three semester hours credit, people "also get a certificate for it."[9] According to Missler's website, the university allows students to transfer "credits" from Missler's Koinonia Institute for "up to half of the credit hour requirements for a graduate degree" at Louisiana Baptist University.[10]
History
LBU was originally started in 1973 as Baptist Christian University, offering distance education allowing full-time ministers to complete their degrees without leaving their pastorates. The charter and management were restructured by the management and the Board of Trustees in February of 1993. According to the school's website it was felt appropriate at that time to change the name to Louisiana Baptist University.[11]
Louisiana Baptist University has claimed that on February 1, 1994 it became the first non-traditional postsecondary institution in the state of Louisiana to receive full licensure by the Louisiana Board of Regents.[11]
Louisiana Baptist University started offering degree programs in business administration in 1998, which it claimed did not require approval from the Louisiana Board of Regents.[12] On December 10, 1998, the Board of Regents unanimously voted to deny the University an operating license for its business education programs, required it to cease admitting students, and cease advertising.[13] Students matriculated at the time were allowed until December 31, 1999 to finish their degrees. Then, reversing its prior decision, on April 22, 1999, the Board voted to accept the recommendation of the Planning, Research and Performance Committee to exempt Louisiana Baptist University under the religious institution exemption provided for by Act 129 of 1991, allowing it to operate as a religious institution.[14]
Kathleen Blanco, governor of Louisiana, declared the month of April 2005 as "Louisiana Baptist University Month".[15]
Programs
The university employs 44 people as faculty and staff. The majority of the faculty list graduate degrees from LBU, including its previous name Baptist Christian University and Baptist Christian College.[16] The majority of the faculty hold terminal degrees from LBU, which the institution says reflects the school's "strong stance on inspiration of the scriptures, doctrinal purity and pre-millennialism."[3]
Notable alumni and students
Seminary
- Carl Baugh - Th.D. (2005) - author and president of the unaccredited Pacific International University.[17]
- Mal Couch - Th.D. - author and president of the unaccredited Tyndale Theological Seminary.[18]
- Rick Scarborough - D.Min. - author, activist, and founder of Vision America.[19][20]
- Neal Weaver - D.Min. - current Louisiana Baptist University president
University
- John Ashcroft, Honorary Doctorate[21]
- Bob Cornuke - Ph.D. (2005) - author and director of the Bible Archaeology Search and Exploration Institute (BASE).[22]
- Bill Gothard - Ph.D. (2004) - director of the Institute in Basic Life Principles
- Grant Jeffrey - M.A., Ph.D. (1999) - author and teacher
- Chuck Missler - Ph.D. (1999) - author and founder/operator of Koinonia Institute
- Robert Morey - Ph.D. in Islamic Studies (2003) - author, founder and sole faculty member of the unaccredited California Biblical University and Seminary.[23]
- Kenneth B. Spears -- Pastor of First St. John Baptist Church in Forthworth, Texas.[24]
Current students
- Roland S. Martin[25][26] -- African American author, syndicated columnist, and WVON radio host.
See also
References
- ^ "Educational accreditation". US Department of Education.
- ^ http://www.lbu.edu/macacademic.html
- ^ a b c d "Academics and Vision". Louisiana Baptist University. 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
- ^ "Institutional Accreditation System". United States Department of Education. 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
- ^ "List of unrecognized accreditors". Credential Watch. 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
- ^ Steve Levicoff. Name It and Frame It?. (3rd edition) Institute on Religion and Law. 1993 (pages 113 and 133
- ^ Life Credits and Diploma Mills United States Department of Education
- ^ Learn the Bible in 24 hours by Chuck Missler
- ^ Dan Wooding. Learn the Bible in 24 Hours: Chuck Missler releases an extraordinary teaching tool ASSIST News Service. Garden Grove, CA April 3, 2001
- ^ Koinonia Institute degrees
- ^ a b "Welcome to LBU!". Louisiana Baptist University (Archived). April 1999. Retrieved 2007-03-07.
- ^ "Unlicensed 'colleges' worry state officials: Legislation being prepared to tighten rules for nonprofit schools", The Advocate (Baton Rouge), November 22, 1998. "The Louisiana Baptist University in Shreveport plans to offer a business administration degree. The university doesn't think Regents approval is necessary."
- ^ "Minutes of Board of Regents December 10, 1998". Louisiana Board of Regents. December 10, 1998. Retrieved 2007-03-13. Orders LBU to stop admitting students.
- ^ "Minutes of Board of Regents April 22, 1999". Louisiana Board of Regents. April 22, 1999. Retrieved 2007-03-13.
- ^ United States of America, State of Louisiana, Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Proclamation Signed March 29, 2005.
- ^ Louisiana Baptist University faculty and staff page
- ^ Tobia, P.J. "Reading, Writing and Jesus: What nearby schools don’t know about the Bible class they soon may be teaching", Nashville Scene, October 19, 2006. Accessed December 19, 2007. "While there are a few reputable legal and theological minds from solid universities associated with the group, they are far outnumbered by the likes of Carl Baugh, who holds a Ph.D. in theology from Louisiana Baptist University, an unaccredited online school."
- ^ Perkes, Kim Sue Lia. "Fort Worth school sues to call itself "seminary'", Austin American-Statesman, April 15, 1999. "Tyndale has about 350 seminary students, about two-thirds of them taking courses by correspondence, said Mal Couch, the school's president and founder. He said he holds five degrees, including a doctorate of theology from Louisiana Baptist Seminary..."
- ^ Murray, Shailagh. "Filibuster Fray Lifts Profile of Minister: Scarborough Has Network and Allies", The Washington Post, May 8, 2005. Accessed December 19, 2007. "After receiving a master's of divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth and a doctorate in ministry from Louisiana Baptist Theological Seminary, Scarborough hit the national revival and crusade circuit for 14 years."
- ^ Rick Scarborough Vision America
- ^ Dolan, David The courage to tell the truth World Net Daily Feb. 18, 2002
- ^ Wilson, Jennifer. "Is Noah's Ark on mount in Iran? Man scours the world looking for religious artifacts", Deseret Morning News, August 11, 2006. Accessed December 19, 2007. "Bob Cornuke doesn't have a degree in archaeology; he holds a doctorate in Bible and theology from Louisiana Baptist University."
- ^ Arellano. "Dr. Jihad", OC Weekly, March 2, 2006. Accessed December 19, 2007. "Morey also claims to have received a doctorate from Louisiana Baptist University. Two problems: LBU is unaccredited by the United States government, which means no serious academy would recognize it. Then there’s this: LBU doesn’t offer a Ph.D. in Islamic studies."
- ^ Guest preacher at revival by Rhonda Morrow, Texarkana Gazette, 12/8/2007
- ^ Commentary: Integrity biggest loss in baseball scandal by Roland S. Martin (12-19-2007) Retrieved 12/19/2007
- ^ Commentary: You can't take Christ out of Christmas by Roland S. Martin (12-19-2007)
External links
- Louisiana Baptist University – Official website
- Library of Congress Doctoral Information – Information on PhD dissertations
- Credential Watch Lists ACCTS as suspect agency.
- State of Michigan Cites ACCTS as unapproved.
- State of Oregon Cites ACCTS as unapproved.
- Articles needing cleanup from December 2007
- Cleanup tagged articles without a reason field from December 2007
- Wikipedia pages needing cleanup from December 2007
- Unaccredited institutions of higher learning
- Educational institutions established in 1973
- Shreveport, Louisiana
- Baptist schools
- Unaccredited Christian universities and colleges
- Distance education institutions