There are those who attempt to persuade all who are involved in post-secondary Christian education that only the United States Department of Education-approved accreditation organizations can be recognized as qualified to grant such accreditation.

This concept is constitutionally dangerous as it allows one group a monopoly in higher education and permits undue secular influence on what is taught in religious higher education. It is particularly disturbing when considering the accreditation of schools that teach Biblical and religious studies. Institutions of religious education such as Bible schools and seminaries frequently do not pursue accreditation from the most widely acknowledged accrediting agencies, largely revolving around the issue of separation of church and state. Religious beliefs impact the type of accreditation that is pursued.

Secular accreditation associations are recognized by governmental agencies. Their authority is traced back to federal government, e.g., Washington, D.C. in the United States. Religious accrediting associations draw their recognition from the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, which church has no absolute seat of power on earth. Authority is derived directly from Heaven. For more information regarding accreditation and the separation of church and state, please visit www.joinitaa.com. If separation of church and state is a concern to you, we want to accredit your college.

Another reason that many religious schools choose not to pursue federal accreditation is the inability to meet the cost involved in the review and examination, not just initially, but also at intervals in the following years. There are few alternatives to the exorbitantly expensive accreditation bodies that are recognized by the USDE or Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Sadly, the result is that many of those schools resort to valueless credentials in the form of a certificate from an accreditation mill. Accreditation mills advertise on the internet and will sell worthless accreditation documents for as little as $100. However, these accreditation mills provide little or no support, ongoing evaluation, or direction in improving quality of Christian education and school integrity.
We want to accredit your college. There are organizations that accredit Christian theological and Bible colleges and seminaries according to careful adherence to scriptural principles in terms of academic content as well as governance. It should be clearly understood that the schools these entities accredit operate under the same standards as secular schools in regard to administration, admission, student service, resources, etc…, encompassing the school as a whole. These are not haphazard schools that will throw certificates and ministry diplomas at people who want religious education. The fact that they choose not to seek federally-approved accreditation has nothing to do with the quality of educational experience they provide, academically or otherwise.  It only means that they choose to acknowledge a differing authority.

Please visit www.joinitaa.com for further discussion of these crucial issues, and to discover how you can support quantifiable, quality accreditation for the religious schools, colleges and seminaries which chose to not submit themselves to standards which violate their foundational belief system.  In order to present a united defense of our rights to provide and pursue the education we desire without undue constraint by the secular federal government, we want to accredit your college.