Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools
Encyclopedia
The Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) is a U.S.
national educational accreditation
agency for Christian colleges, universities, and seminaries. TRACS, which is based in Forest, Virginia
, is recognized by the United States Department of Education
and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
.
(ICR), TRACS is a "product of the ICR" and was created "Because of the prejudice against creation-science
, outspoken creationist schools" that had "little or no chance of getting recognition through accreditation." Currently TRACS requires all accredited schools to have a statement of faith that affirms "the inerrancy and historicity of the Bible" and "the divine work of non-evolutionary creation
including persons in God's image".
TRACS's first application for federal recognition in 1987 was denied, but in 1991, U.S. Education Secretary
Lamar Alexander
"approved TRACS, despite his advisory panel's repeatedly recommending against recognition." This action "worried" accrediting officials who concluded that TRACS was not a qualified accreditor and created controversy amongst education officials.
Another source of criticism was the 1991 granting of accreditation to the Institute for Creation Research
. One of TRACS' board members was Henry M. Morris
, founder of ICR. Attorney Timothy Sandefur called Morris's position on the board "highly questionable". In 2007 John D. Morris
, Henry Morris' son, asked TRACS to terminate the ICR's accreditation. The reason was, in part, that the ICR moved to Texas and the state does not recognize TRACS.
In 1993, Steve Levicoff
published a book-length critical discussion of TRACS, When the TRACS Stop Short: An Evaluation and Critique of the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. Levicoff criticized TRACS's expedited accreditation of Liberty University
and its creation of a category for schools which it called associate schools. While this category "was not considered an official accreditation," Levicoff argued that TRACS lent its name to a number of "blatantly fraudulent institutions." Liberty gained TRACS accreditation in September 1984, but resigned its accreditation on November 6, 2008.
In 1995, a federal review was conducted and National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity placed TRACS on 18 months probation. Improvements were made, including eliminating the "associate schools" category and changing chairmen.
It currently has authority for the "accreditation and preaccreditation ("Candidate" status) of postsecondary institutions in the United States that offer certificates, diplomas, and associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees, including institutions that offer distance education." The USDE reauthorized TRACS in 2005. Its most recent scheduled review by the USDE was in 2009.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
national educational accreditation
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...
agency for Christian colleges, universities, and seminaries. TRACS, which is based in Forest, Virginia
Forest, Virginia
Forest is a census-designated place in Bedford County, Virginia, United States. The population was 8,006 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Forest is located at ....
, is recognized by the 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...
and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
Council 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...
.
History
The organization was founded in 1971 to "promote the welfare, interests, and development of postsecondary institutions, whose mission is characterized by a distinctly Christian purpose." According to the Institute for Creation ResearchInstitute for Creation Research
The Institute for Creation Research is a Christian institution in Dallas, Texas that specializes in education, research, and media promotion of Creation Science and Biblical creationism. The ICR adopts the Bible as an inerrant and literal documentary of scientific and historical fact as well as...
(ICR), TRACS is a "product of the ICR" and was created "Because of the prejudice against creation-science
Creation science
Creation Science or scientific creationism is a branch of creationism that attempts to provide scientific support for the Genesis creation narrative in the Book of Genesis and disprove generally accepted scientific facts, theories and scientific paradigms about the history of the Earth, cosmology...
, outspoken creationist schools" that had "little or no chance of getting recognition through accreditation." Currently TRACS requires all accredited schools to have a statement of faith that affirms "the inerrancy and historicity of the Bible" and "the divine work of non-evolutionary creation
Creationism
Creationism is the religious beliefthat humanity, life, the Earth, and the universe are the creation of a supernatural being, most often referring to the Abrahamic god. As science developed from the 18th century onwards, various views developed which aimed to reconcile science with the Genesis...
including persons in God's image".
TRACS's first application for federal recognition in 1987 was denied, but in 1991, U.S. Education Secretary
United States Secretary of Education
The United States Secretary of Education is the head of the Department of Education. The Secretary is a member of the President's Cabinet, and 16th in line of United States presidential line of succession...
Lamar Alexander
Lamar Alexander
Andrew Lamar Alexander is the senior United States Senator from Tennessee and Conference Chair of the Republican Party. He was previously the 45th Governor of Tennessee from 1979 to 1987, United States Secretary of Education from 1991 to 1993 under President George H. W...
"approved TRACS, despite his advisory panel's repeatedly recommending against recognition." This action "worried" accrediting officials who concluded that TRACS was not a qualified accreditor and created controversy amongst education officials.
Another source of criticism was the 1991 granting of accreditation to the Institute for Creation Research
Institute for Creation Research
The Institute for Creation Research is a Christian institution in Dallas, Texas that specializes in education, research, and media promotion of Creation Science and Biblical creationism. The ICR adopts the Bible as an inerrant and literal documentary of scientific and historical fact as well as...
. One of TRACS' board members was Henry M. Morris
Henry M. Morris
Henry Madison Morris was an American young earth creationist and Christian apologist. He was one of the founders of the Creation Research Society and the Institute for Creation Research...
, founder of ICR. Attorney Timothy Sandefur called Morris's position on the board "highly questionable". In 2007 John D. Morris
John D. Morris
John David Morris is an American young earth creationist. He is the son of "the father of creation science", Henry M. Morris, and after his father's death became the president of the Institute for Creation Research . Morris is a creationist author and speaks at a variety of churches. Many of his...
, Henry Morris' son, asked TRACS to terminate the ICR's accreditation. The reason was, in part, that the ICR moved to Texas and the state does not recognize TRACS.
In 1993, Steve Levicoff
Steve Levicoff
Steve F. Levicoff is an American writer and former educator best known for his writings, in books and online, on adult higher education and distance learning, and his practical guides to law for evangelists and Christian counselors...
published a book-length critical discussion of TRACS, When the TRACS Stop Short: An Evaluation and Critique of the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. Levicoff criticized TRACS's expedited accreditation of Liberty University
Liberty University
Liberty University is a private Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty's annual enrollment is around 72,000 students, 12,000 of whom are residential students and 60,000+ studying through Liberty University Online...
and its creation of a category for schools which it called associate schools. While this category "was not considered an official accreditation," Levicoff argued that TRACS lent its name to a number of "blatantly fraudulent institutions." Liberty gained TRACS accreditation in September 1984, but resigned its accreditation on November 6, 2008.
In 1995, a federal review was conducted and National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity placed TRACS on 18 months probation. Improvements were made, including eliminating the "associate schools" category and changing chairmen.
It currently has authority for the "accreditation and preaccreditation ("Candidate" status) of postsecondary institutions in the United States that offer certificates, diplomas, and associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees, including institutions that offer distance education." The USDE reauthorized TRACS in 2005. Its most recent scheduled review by the USDE was in 2009.
See also
- List of recognized accreditation associations of higher learning
- Regional accreditationRegional accreditationRegional accreditation is a term used in the United States to refer to educational accreditation conducted by any of several accreditation bodies established to serve six defined geographic areas of the country for accreditation of schools, colleges, and universities...
External links
- Transnational Association of Christian Colleges, official site