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Notice of Accreditation Visit

God’s Bible School and College (GBSC) is scheduled for a comprehensive evaluation visit September 24-26, 2007, by a team representing the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. 

The Higher Learning Commission is one of six accrediting agencies in the United States that provide institutional accreditation on a regional basis.  Institutional accreditation evaluates an entire institution and accredits it as a whole, in contrast with program-level agencies, which provide accreditation for specific programs.  Accreditation is voluntary.  The Higher Learning Commission accredits approximately 1,000 institutions of higher education in a nineteen-state region and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.

Since the spring of 2004, GBSC has been engaged in a series of self-study activities, most recently beginning in the fall of 2006, addressing the Commission’s requirements and criteria for accreditation.  Among the strengths of the institution identified in that process are the very high student satisfaction ratings given for faculty, building and grounds, social life, and student body.  In all these areas, on this nationally recognized inventory, GBSC students in the fall of 2006 ranked close to the top (5.8 or above on a 7-point scale).

After an enrollment drop in the 2005-2006 Academic Year, GBSC has implemented new strategies in enrollment management.  Initial results show increased conversion of applicants to students; the institution anticipates increased student persistence as well.  In addition, self-study has noted the significant and positive impact of strategic planning throughout the institution, the progress in assessment of student learning outcomes, and the sound fiscal management that has allowed the institution to pay off all debt while growing its cash flow reserves and its scholarship funds.

The self-study, which involved all segments of the GBSC campus, also identifies areas for further improvements.  Ongoing improvement work marks institutional assessment, as GBSC staff and faculty work to assess effectiveness in all areas of institutional operation.  This also affects ongoing work to improve the institutional planning “cycle” or system.

In September 2007, the evaluation team from the Higher Learning Commission will visit the institution to gather evidence that the self-study is thorough and accurate.  The team will submit a recommendation to the Commission concerning initial accreditation status for the institution.  Following a review process, the Commission itself will take the final action.