One Week after Accreditation
We really did not know how it was going to go. I have often said over the last week that I would not want to play poker against any of our accreditation visitation team or the commission members. They did not in any way let us know what they were thinking about ILT as a candidate for initial accreditation. We did not have a good feeling, either way. However, one week ago, ILT was granted initial accreditation from the Associate for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE).
Most people connect to ILT have probably never heard of ABHE until they heard that ILT had decided to receive accreditation from them. Most Lutheran schools are accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). There were a couple of hurdles for ILT concerning ATS. One is that ATS does not allow for a 100% online learning modality. ATS accreditation would radically change the way ILT approaches online education. Our integrated online approach which combines the academic classroom into the real life of the student was too important for us to compromise. Additionally, ATS does not accredit all levels of higher education. Specifically, it does not accredit undergraduate programs, which ILT has thought about as a part of our future. ABHE, however, gives us the accreditation flexibility to do all higher education programs from associate degrees to doctorates.
What does this accreditation mean for the future of ILT? Perhaps one temptation would be to take a break from it all and sit back to enjoy this for a while. If the 20 page summary of things we should do next from Rev. Timothy Swenson is any indication this is not how the administration of ILT is going to react. Instead, there were many closed doors to an unaccredited institution which are now open to us. We have the room to move through them now and move we will.
Dr. Bielfelt is excited about the way this opens for us to start a Ph.D. program. Pastor Swenson is excited about the way this opens for us to serve those in the military, particularly training chaplains. Dr. Sorum is excited about how this opens for us the ability to engage in more academic pursuits among the faculty. I personally am excited about how we can move the institutional structures forward, open new markets, and expand our business models. (I know, I'm a nerd's nerd.)
All this is to say, accreditation is just the beginning. ILT has big plans for the future. We know that accreditation is simply the floor, the foundation is laid. Now it is time to build the rest of the building, to build upon the foundation we have thanks to the efforts of those at ABHE. This is a foundation not only in terms of accreditation but more importantly in Christ. ILT is an institution of education and training in Christ and for his church. We give thanks to God for the blessing he has given us in this process and we pray for his blessing for our future.
Most people connect to ILT have probably never heard of ABHE until they heard that ILT had decided to receive accreditation from them. Most Lutheran schools are accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). There were a couple of hurdles for ILT concerning ATS. One is that ATS does not allow for a 100% online learning modality. ATS accreditation would radically change the way ILT approaches online education. Our integrated online approach which combines the academic classroom into the real life of the student was too important for us to compromise. Additionally, ATS does not accredit all levels of higher education. Specifically, it does not accredit undergraduate programs, which ILT has thought about as a part of our future. ABHE, however, gives us the accreditation flexibility to do all higher education programs from associate degrees to doctorates.
What does this accreditation mean for the future of ILT? Perhaps one temptation would be to take a break from it all and sit back to enjoy this for a while. If the 20 page summary of things we should do next from Rev. Timothy Swenson is any indication this is not how the administration of ILT is going to react. Instead, there were many closed doors to an unaccredited institution which are now open to us. We have the room to move through them now and move we will.
Dr. Bielfelt is excited about the way this opens for us to start a Ph.D. program. Pastor Swenson is excited about the way this opens for us to serve those in the military, particularly training chaplains. Dr. Sorum is excited about how this opens for us the ability to engage in more academic pursuits among the faculty. I personally am excited about how we can move the institutional structures forward, open new markets, and expand our business models. (I know, I'm a nerd's nerd.)
All this is to say, accreditation is just the beginning. ILT has big plans for the future. We know that accreditation is simply the floor, the foundation is laid. Now it is time to build the rest of the building, to build upon the foundation we have thanks to the efforts of those at ABHE. This is a foundation not only in terms of accreditation but more importantly in Christ. ILT is an institution of education and training in Christ and for his church. We give thanks to God for the blessing he has given us in this process and we pray for his blessing for our future.
Excellent thoughts here, Leon.
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