Accreditation of Institutions and Programs
of Biblical Higher Education
Among the early Bible institutes and colleges, there was a lack of commonly accepted standards and very little professional dialogue among its educators. Few institutions were recognized by state and provincial boards of education and other accrediting agencies. However, as these institutions lengthened their programs and began offering degrees, the need for an accrediting agency to serve in this neglected field became increasingly apparent.
Hence, the Accrediting Association of Bible Institutes and Bible Colleges was organized in October, 1947. The name was shortened in 1957 to the Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges. It was changed again in 1973 to the American Association of Bible Colleges before being changed back to the Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges in 1994 to more accurately represent the geographic purview of the Association that included institutions in Canada, the United States, and related territories. In 2004 the name was changed again to the Association for Biblical Higher Education in order to reflect its expansion of scope with graduate education accreditation and programmatic accreditation and in order to address its expansion of services to include affiliate institutions.
The Association for Biblical Higher Education is recognized as a national accrediting agency by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), the successor of the Council on Postsecondary Education (COPA), and subsequently the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation (CORPA).
ABHE is also listed by the United States Department of Education as a recognized agency for biblical higher education. This recognition extends as well to ABHE’s candidate institutions. The Association’s member institutions are recognized by the Department of Justice, the Veteran’s Administration, and other relevant federal agencies in the United States. There is no federal department for education in Canada.
Finally, ABHE is recognized by the International Council for Evangelical Theological Education, the theological education affiliate of the World Evangelical Alliance. The Council is a global community sponsored by eight continental/regional associations of theological schools.
Incorporated in the State of Illinois as a not-for-profit corporation, the Association is exempt from income tax under the provisions of section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.
ABHE is operated by its member institutions through a board of directors, members of which are elected at an annual business meeting. Accrediting decisions are made by the Commission on Accreditation. The Association’s public accountability is underscored by the requirement that both the Board of Directors and the Commission on Accreditation must include public representatives among its members. The Association is administered by a full-time Executive Director and supported by a corps of professional staff.
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