[Vision2020] NSA's accrediting agency is not recognized in Texas

[nickgier at adelphia.net]

Greetings:

Ralph Nielsen sent me this and he may want to post it here, but if he does not, here is some interesting news.  

First, the Transnational Association for Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), New St. Andrews College's accrediting agency, was founded by creationist Henry Morris; and second, TRACS is not recognized by Texas' higher education authorities.  It is good to see that Texas has higher academic standards than Idaho.

Here is my favorite quotation from Henry Morris: "It is better to believe in the revealed World of God than any science or philosophy devised by man."  As if good scientists made up their own data in the laboratory!

ICR SEEKS TO GRANT DEGREES IN TEXAS

Morris explained, "The possibility of moving to Dallas surfaced when my brother, Dr. Henry Morris III, discerned that a central location would be beneficial for ICR, with several possibilities for student services at nearby affiliated colleges.  The many good  
churches and large numbers of ICR supporters living in North Texas made it a  
natural fit for the ministry.  When my father [Henry Morris] was still alive he
approved the move to Dallas, especially as a way to strengthen the graduate school.  In 2006, ICR opened a distance education effort in Dallas,  as well as the hub of ICR's internet ministries. ... As additional operational functions were assigned to the new Dallas office, the Board concluded that it was in ICR's best interests to move the entire ministry."

The ICR's graduate school was previously accredited by the Transnational
Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), a group founded by Henry Morris; Henry Morris III presently serves on its commission.   Texas does not recognize accreditation by TRACS, forcing the ICR to seek temporary state certification while it applies for accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).  As a first step toward certification, a committee of Texas educators visited the ICR's facilities in Dallas to evaluate whether the ICR meets the legal requirements for state certification.  The report described the  
educational program as "plausible," adding, "The proposed degree would be  
generally comparable to an initial master's degree in science education from  
one of the smaller, regional universities in the state."

NCSE's Eugenie C. Scott disagreed, telling the Dallas Morning News,  
"It sounds like the committee may have just taken at face value what  
the ICR claims ... There's a huge gulf between what the ICR is doing and what
they're doing at legitimate institutions like ... [the University  
of Texas] or Baylor."  (The committee members were a librarian, an educational
administrator, and a mathematician; none was professionally trained in
biology, geology, or physics.)  Inside Higher Ed reported (December  
17, 2007), "Some science groups are aghast by the idea that Texas would
authorize master's degrees in science education that are based on complete
opposition to evolution and literal acceptance of the Bible.  And these
groups are particularly concerned because the students in these programs
would be people who are or want to be school teachers."

Although Patricia Nason, chair of the ICR's science education  
department, told the Dallas Morning News, "Our students are given both sides.   
They need to know both sides, and they can draw their own conclusion,"  
the ICR's statement of faith includes the tenet, "All things in the universe  
were created and made by God in the six literal days of the creation week
described in Genesis 1:1-2:3, and confirmed in Exodus 20:8-11.  The creation record is factual, historical and perspicuous; thus all theories of origins or development which involve evolution in any form are false."  Similarly, applicants to the ICR's graduate school are explicitly told that their answers to the essay questions on the application help to determine "your dedication to the Lord, the Word, and teaching  
creation science."

. . .

Nick Gier