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The New Geneva Christian Leadership Academy Advancing the Kingdom of Christ through Scholarship, Leadership and Action |
FAQ: What about Accreditation?
It may be said that New Geneva holds the exact accreditation as Oxford, and Harvard University. In fact, New Geneva has the very same accreditation - NONE. Educational Institutions, be they parochial schools or private colleges usually seek accreditation because they hope that the accreditation will catapult them immediately into the good favor of potential students and faculty. A very successful professional educator once candidly said that accreditation is often sought because the educational institution cannot stand on its own merit. Accreditation therefore becomes a vote of no-confidence in the faculty and the curricula.
At New Geneva we do not seek any accreditation from any outside institution or state. The proof of our scholarship, and professional ability to raise academically courageous leaders rests in our faculty, and tracts of study. We are, however, presently seeking religious exemption registration from the Virginia State Counsel of Higher Education so as to confer recognized Associate and Bachelor degree programs in Theological Studies. Associate Degree In Theological Studies will be awarded for Practical Applied Theology and Historical Theology. Bachelor degrees will be awarded in various tracts of Theological studies.
Dr. James Bartlett, a faculty member at New Geneva sets forth a very compelling argument against any government accreditation. Please take a moment to consider his findings.
FAQ: In What way is Geneva Accredited?
It might be said that The New Geneva Christian
Leadership Academy is technically accredited in
that it is officially recognized as meeting the
essential requirements of education1 according to the
Westminster Standards. (1647).2 This
Confession teaches that the civil government may not assume to
themselves the administration of the Word or interfere in matters of
faith.3 Education at New Geneva is both
the administration of the Word and a matter of faith. Likewise
New Geneva accredits each student’s scholarship, leadership, and action
towards reforming and exceeding state and US Department of Education
expectations and influence.4
References
1.http://Dictionary.com
“Accredited”
2.http://www.apuritansmind.com/WCF/WestminsterConfessionMainPage.htm
3.http://www.apuritansmind.com/WCF/Chapter23WestminsterConfession.htm
4.http://biblicalconcourse.com/AcreditationSnareBC.pdf
FAQ: What about
College Acceptance?
There are a number of Colleges and Universities that will accept the
degrees furnished by an Independent School.
However, there are a number of Colleges and Universities that will not
accept degrees and credits from school that are state
accredited. It all depends upon the school.
FAQ: How do
students transfer New Geneva credits to other colleges?
Students simply initiate the credit and life experience evaluation
process through any college of interest. To help
students, New Geneva maintains a list of colleges which have already
evaluated and agreed to accept New Geneva transfer credits.
FAQ: What About Graduate
Work after Undergraduate completion of a BTS?
There are many schools that will allow graduate work from
a graduate of an Independent college. It all depends on the School.
Our Dr. James Bartlett can assist you in finding such a graduate
program.
For the Advancement of Christ's Kingdom, Pro Rege!
Rev. Dr. Paul Michael Raymond, Founder and Dean
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College accreditation is popularly viewed as a process through which students are ensured a quality education. Acquiring an accreditation status recognized by the federal government is voluntarily chosen by many colleges because they and their students want access to certain government and private funding sources. Research into the value of accreditation has demonstrated conclusively from research and experience that accreditation does not ensure quality (George Leef, Can College Accreditation Live Up to Its Promise?, American Council of Trustees and Alumni, Director of the Pope Center for Higher Education Policy, previous Vice President of the Locke Foundation). For the past 20 years, home educating families have ensured the quality education of their children through their personal involvement and free market decisions. The New Geneva is encouraging and enabling this same level of quality, which has been demonstrated through achievement testing to be 30 percentage points better than accredited schools. |
During the last 100 years, institutions of higher education have collaborated with federal and state agencies to limit the awarding of degrees to accredited institutions in order to protect their market share with the effect of charging a high tuition for a low quality product. Honest reflection by most college graduates and employers will confirm this. In the pursuit of employment, they can be asked to look beyond the paper degree to learn of the genuine character and ability of the person applying for employment.
The fact that accreditation gives rise to the secularization and homogenization of even Christian college curricula, is of even more concern to Christian families.
Therefore, New Geneva encourages and enables families to accredit the specific programs of their own children. Where accreditation is desired for a particular program, families form a review board for each student consisting of the student's parent(s), pastor(s), academic advisor(s), and profession advisor(s). This essentially combines the value of a graduate school committee, accreditation team, and church leadership under the authority of the parents. Acknowledging the authority of the family and church are key to the highest quality and most effective accreditation.
The student may invite desirable employers to participate on their review board and choose to pursue apprenticeships, internships, coops, summer employment or entrepreneurship opportunities with their desired employers at any time.
NOTE: New Geneva is now working
toward registering under the religious exemption clause of the State of
Virginia in order to confer a degree program for 2 and 4 year study.
Originally New Geneva did not issue degrees per se because the role of
New Geneva is to encourage and support private Christian
parent/student-directed higher education. The authority for
acknowledging student accomplishments remains with the parents in
harmony with the young adult's career direction. Just as with home
schooling, parents may choose to acknowledge student accomplishments in
a transcript or curriculum vita or portfolio that is also useful to
employers. New Geneva teachers and advisors provide helpful feedback to
students within the context of their courses and activities.
While New Geneva is not accredited, and
does not desire secular accreditation, it is however
endorsed by some
of the finest Christian ministries, which also seek to see Christ's
Kingdom advance through solid Biblical leadership training.
Dr. James Bartlett
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