BJU seeks accreditation

By Lyn Riddle  

DECEMBER 8, 2011 10:47 a.m. (0)

Bob Jones University officials have decided to undertake the laborious process of seeking accreditation from the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges, which will make it easier for students to get federal financial aid and for graduates to get into graduate school.

Over the years the fundamentalist Christian university has rejected the idea of seeking accreditation because officials thought such oversight would require changes to the university that would compromise core beliefs.

The instructions for the application are 32 pages long and ask for information the university has held closely through the years such as detailed financial statements, qualifications of faculty and administrators and the responsibilities of board members. The application is as thorough as how big the stacks area is for books in the library and what is the university’s long-term debt.

“It’s scary. It does put it all out there by sending it to us,” said Pamela Cravey, a spokeswoman for the accrediting organization. But the application is not released to the public. The application fee is $10,000.

She said completing the application is often a full-time job for a couple of people. Once received, the process takes two to four years and includes a site visit.

The university released a statement that said in part: “Accreditation that allows us to pursue our mission with integrity and biblical fidelity, enables us to continue to improve our operations and quality, and provides value to those we serve is worth serious consideration.”

Camille Lewis, a graduate and former professor, said she is cautiously optimistic.

“It’s unfortunate that they have stubbornly made this a spiritual issue for decades,” she said.

Alumni have discounted the benefit of the university’s accreditation through Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, which the university obtained in 2005.

“It seems BJU finally understands that we alumni were right. TRACS accreditation is not best for the BJU students and graduates,” she said.

The BJU board at its regular meeting last Friday approved pursuing accreditation as well as agreeing to start intercollegiate programs in men’s and women’s soccer and basketball.

The teams would play in the National Christian College Athletic Association, the same association North Greenville University plays in.

“There are a number of very positive reasons for introducing intercollegiate athletics into the educational program and student life of BJU at this time,” Stephen Jones, president of BJU, said in a statement released by the university. “We anticipate that intercollegiate athletics will strengthen school spirit among both students and alumni and provide new occasions for alumni and the community to come to campus.”

The statement also said Jones believes such competition will help instruct others on how a Christian should view athletics.

The school will maintain its intramural sports program among student societies.

Also at the meeting, the board accepted the resignation of the Rev. Chuck Phelps as a member of the Bob Jones University cooperating board.

Phelps said he resigned because he didn’t want his personal life to become a disruption for BJU.

A group of alumni circulated an online petition asking the university to remove Phelps because of the way the minister handled allegations that a church member raped a 15-year-old girl in his congregation.

Phelps was the pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Concord, N.H., in 1997 when Tina Anderson accused Ernie Willis of raping her in the backseat of his car after he had given her a driving lesson. A month later Willis raped her again. When she found out she was pregnant, she and her mother went to Phelps.

She has said Phelps made her stand before the church while he read a statement telling the congregation she was pregnant. At the same time, Willis was required to confess he had committed adultery but no mention was made of Anderson, according to 20/20.

Anderson said Phelps made her go to a private home in Colorado, where she gave up her baby for adoption. She also claimed Phelps told her not to contact the police.

But Phelps denied all of Anderson’s claims. He said he reported the incident to police and child protective services, but neither agency followed up. He also said her mother made the decision to send her to friends of his in Colorado.

Phelps said he allowed Anderson to appear before the congregation as a way to get help not to shame her. But he said he would not allow that to happen today and he regrets that decision.

Camille Lewis, a BJU graduate and former professor, said, “I am glad to see that Bob Jones University is listening to its concerned alumni. I hope this means that Chuck Phelps will also be resigning from the boards of the Bob Jones affiliated mission board, Gospel Fellowship Association, and youth camp, The WILDS, since both involve oversight of minors. And I hope that Chuck Phelps will no longer be an adjunct faculty member teaching pastoral ethics. A public apology to Tina Anderson, as well, would be only fitting.”

Willis was arrested last year. Willis was convicted of two counts of rape in September and sentenced to 15 to 30 years in prison.