Accrediting Commission International
Encyclopedia
Accrediting Commission International (ACI), also known as Accrediting Commission International for Schools, Colleges, and Theological Seminaries, possibly associated with International Accrediting Commission (IAC), also known as International Accrediting Commission for Schools, Colleges and Theological Seminaries is an unrecognized educational accreditation
corporation in Beebe, Arkansas
, primarily accrediting religious schools, including seminaries and Bible college
s, but also offering accreditation to non-U.S. schools that offer business education programs. John F. Scheel is president. The St. Petersburg Times quoted Alan Contreras, the leader of Oregon's Office of Degree Authorization (an organization that follows questionable accrediting agencies) as saying, "Anything accredited by ACI in Beebe, Ark., is either fake or substandard, as far as I know."
or United States Department of Education
, the two institutions responsible for recognizing educational accrediting institutions in the United States. According to its website, ACI had not applied for USDE affiliation as of 2007 because most of its members' views regarding separation of church and state
.
The Oregon Office of Degree Authorization includes ACI in its list of unrecognized accreditation agencies stating that, "any so-called 'accreditation' by these bodies is meaningless in Oregon and in some other states."
IAC was caught in a sting operation
by Missouri assistant attorney general Eric Vieth. They accredited an obviously bogus college and were subsequently charged with fraud. IAC was ordered to cease operation in the state of Missouri but reappeared in Beebe, accrediting the same institutions as previously. Degree.net says that "International Accrediting Commission for Schools, Colleges and Theological Seminaries" (IAC) was an organization directed by Dr. George Reuter, who retired immediately before ACI arose in Arkansas.
Some organizations accredited by ACI include Cornerstone University, Washington International University
, Wisconsin International University,, Central Bible College International and Trinity Valley Baptist Seminary and College
in Kennedale
, Texas
.
Educational accreditation
Educational accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met...
corporation in Beebe, Arkansas
Beebe, Arkansas
Beebe, Arkansas is a city in White County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 4,930 at the 2000 census, making it the second most populous in the county after Searcy. The city is home to a branch campus of Jonesboro-based Arkansas State University. It was named for Roswell Beebe, a...
, primarily accrediting religious schools, including seminaries and Bible college
Bible college
Bible colleges are institutions of higher education that specialize in biblical studies. Curriculum is Bible-based and differs from that of liberal arts colleges or research universities. Bible colleges generally exclude the study of philosophy, unlike seminaries and theological colleges...
s, but also offering accreditation to non-U.S. schools that offer business education programs. John F. Scheel is president. The St. Petersburg Times quoted Alan Contreras, the leader of Oregon's Office of Degree Authorization (an organization that follows questionable accrediting agencies) as saying, "Anything accredited by ACI in Beebe, Ark., is either fake or substandard, as far as I know."
Recognition
ACI is not recognized by either Council for Higher Education AccreditationCouncil for Higher Education Accreditation
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation is a United States organization of degree-granting colleges and universities. It identifies its purpose as providing national advocacy for self-regulation of academic quality through accreditation in order to certify the quality of higher education...
or United States Department of Education
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
, the two institutions responsible for recognizing educational accrediting institutions in the United States. According to its website, ACI had not applied for USDE affiliation as of 2007 because most of its members' views regarding separation of church and state
Separation of church and state
The concept of the separation of church and state refers to the distance in the relationship between organized religion and the nation state....
.
The Oregon Office of Degree Authorization includes ACI in its list of unrecognized accreditation agencies stating that, "any so-called 'accreditation' by these bodies is meaningless in Oregon and in some other states."
IAC was caught in a sting operation
Sting operation
In law enforcement, a sting operation is a deceptive operation designed to catch a person committing a crime. A typical sting will have a law-enforcement officer or cooperative member of the public play a role as criminal partner or potential victim and go along with a suspect's actions to gather...
by Missouri assistant attorney general Eric Vieth. They accredited an obviously bogus college and were subsequently charged with fraud. IAC was ordered to cease operation in the state of Missouri but reappeared in Beebe, accrediting the same institutions as previously. Degree.net says that "International Accrediting Commission for Schools, Colleges and Theological Seminaries" (IAC) was an organization directed by Dr. George Reuter, who retired immediately before ACI arose in Arkansas.
Schools accredited by ACI
In 2009 ACI reported having accredited 310 schools.Some organizations accredited by ACI include Cornerstone University, Washington International University
Washington International University
Washington International University is an unaccredited institution of higher education founded in 1994 and currently incorporated in the British Virgin Islands. It describes itself as a "university without borders," serving clients from around the world via distance education...
, Wisconsin International University,, Central Bible College International and Trinity Valley Baptist Seminary and College
Trinity Valley Baptist Seminary and College
Trinity Valley Baptist Seminary and College is an Independent Baptist, fundamentalist, and King James Only seminary and college located in Kennedale in Tarrant County between Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas...
in Kennedale
Kennedale, Texas
Kennedale is a city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,763 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Kennedale is located at ....
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
See also
- Accreditation millAccreditation millAn accreditation mill is an organization that purports to award educational accreditation to higher education institutions without having government authority or recognition from mainstream academia to operate as an accreditor. Implicit in the terminology is the assumption that the "mill" has low...
- Diploma millDiploma millA diploma mill is an organization that awards academic degrees and diplomas with substandard or no academic study and without recognition by official educational accrediting bodies. The purchaser can then claim to hold an academic degree, and the organization is motivated by making a profit...
- List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning
- List of unrecognized accreditation associations of higher learning