John F. Scheel,Ph.D.

President

March 14-16, 2013

Make plans now to attend the 2013 annual ACI conference. The North Carolina College of Theology, Wilmington, NC will be the host University. Dr. J.L. Cook is the president of NCCT.

5260 Paylor Lane

Sarasota, FL 54240

Telephone (877) 244-1989

ACI shares offices with

two other Christian Ministries in Sarasota, Florida.

Welcome to

Accrediting Commission International

Our Mission – "Helping non-government regulated Schools, Colleges, and Theological Seminaries to have good educational processes, good educational processes to be better and better educational processes to be the best – One institution at a time!"

The 2012 International Conference for ACI was held in the beautiful Wyndham Hotel, Lake Buena Vista Resort, Florida at the gate to Disney World. Everyone had a wonderful time during the whole meeting.

Dr. J.L. Cook, Founder and President of the North Carolina College of Theology sang and spoke on the opening night. His talent in singing, humor, and speaking ability was phenomenal as usual.

Friday, March 16 was loaded with beneficial seminars. Dr. Gloria Forward, president of International Apostolic University, Dayton, She spoke on School Position for Success in 2012. Her excitement and preparation for the class was great as she usually is.

Dr. John Scheel, President of Accrediting Commission International taught a motivational seminar on Leadership Success from the past and also gave an in-depth seminary on the ACI Quality Guidelines. This gave the members present a more clear view of what to expect from ACI and what ACI expects from member institutions.

Mr. H.T. Mohair and his wife Jacqueline made a presentation on using the internet in education. They own Empowered Minds a large visual computer age company. This seminar showed the advancing computer age and how education of the future will be facilitated.

Dr. Jose Diaz of Mizpa Christian University, Orlando, FL received iPad 2 in the drawing for those who pre-registered for the conference.

Drs. Richard and Phyllis Arno, National Christian Counselors Association founders made a wonderful joint presentation on Developing a 21st Century Counseling Program.

Dr. Keith Johnson spoke on Friday night on the LQ Secret. This was an inspirational message on Maximizing your School/Church Leadership Quotient. He finished the seminar on Saturday morning. Dr. Johnson was amazing in his presentation as he always is.

The food prepared all three days of the conference and catered by the Wyndham Hotel was delicious. The food and fellowship and parting breakfast on Saturday was praised by all.

Make plans to meet us March 14-16, 2013 in Wilmington, NC at the North Carolina College of Theology for the conference next year! We hope every school will mark their calendar and attend this great meeting.

2012 CONFERENCE REVIEW

							
								$('#811841').cycle({
									fx:      'fade', 												
									cleartypeNoBg: 'false', 
									pause: '', 
									timeout: 0, 
									slideResize: 1,
									fit: 1,
									speed: 0} ); 
							
						

Our Mission – "Helping non-government regulated Schools, Colleges, and Theological Seminaries to have good educational processes, good educational processes to be better and better educational processes to be the best – One institution at a time!"

Your Questions Are Answered By:

Accrediting Commission International

John F. Scheel, Ph.D.; D.R.E., President

ACCREDITATION

TRANSFER OF CREDITS

JOB MARKET

An accrediting organization is a watchman on the wall. Webster defines accreditation as to give trust or confidence to; to vouch for; to recommend; to furnish with credentials, as an envoy or ambassador. Every accreditation group is not the same. There are different accrediting groups, focused in different areas of accreditation.

Accrediting Commission International is an international accrediting commission which holds as its primary objective the encouragement and maintenance of sound scholarship and the highest academic achievement in the areas of private education. Quality education is the goal at all times. Its purpose is the preparation of quality education in private schools, colleges, and theological seminaries. It is a non-governmental body and makes no claim to be connected with the government.

A degree covers the major taken with that degree. A student or potential student must understand that credits taken in one type program may not transfer to another type program. This is the sole determination of the receiving institution.

The job market is highly competitive. Training is specialized in most fields. A graduate in one field may have difficulty in being hired in a field that they are not certified for.

Introduction to ACI

We are pleased to know about your interest in being accredited by Accrediting Commission International for Schools, Colleges, and Theological Seminaries. I would like to tell you a little about us.

We are a non-profit corporation in the State of Florida. We are primarily a religious school accrediting agency. Due to the views of most of our schools concerning the separation of church and state, we have never applied to the U.S. Department of Education for any affiliation with the government. We are an independent accrediting agency. We specialize in the seminary, Bible College, and small specialized school that does not fit into the programs of other accrediting commissions.

ACI is a member of the National Federation of Independent Business. This is among the largest business organizations in the United States.

Accrediting Commission International endorses and supports the practices and principles of the Better Business Bureau. It is an accredited member of the West Florida Better Business Bureau. Check www.accreditnow.com.

Accrediting Commission International encourages our members to bloom where they are planted. We practice what we preach.

We have 250+ schools in 6 countries and 35 United States! We are one of the largest private, non-government related accrediting association in the world.

Introduction to the President of Accrediting Commission International

Dr. John F. Scheel has been the president of Accrediting Commission since inception. as been active in the accrediting process since 1979. Dr. Scheel has been on the visiting team for over 200 colleges and schools as they were applying for accreditation.

Dr. Scheel is a graduate of Central Baptist College in Conway, Arkansas, having received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1976. He received his Master of Divinity Degree from Luther Rice Seminary, Jacksonville, Florida in 1977, a Ph.D. in Christian Education from Toledo Bible College and Seminary, Indiana in 1980, a Doctor of Religious Education Degree from Moody Theological Seminary in Georgia in 1986, and a Honorary Doctor of Humane letters on May 31, 1997 from Washington Saturday College. He is currently working toward a Doctor of Philosophy Degree with Oxford Graduate School.

He has lead five groups to the Holy Land, and traveled in many countries doing evangelistic and missionary work. He is the founding pastor of the Lighthouse Church in Beebe, Arkansas since 1966. He is also the founder and president of Lighthouse Christian College and Academy, located in Beebe, Arkansas.

Dr. Scheel is listed in Personalities of the South. He was nominated and accepted in Who’s Who Worldwide in 1993 for his work in Christian Education and Accreditation.

He is very qualified to do the examinations for the members of Accrediting Commission International. Schools remark that he is very helpful during this process, which is one of the advantages of being accredited and obtaining membership in ACI. ACI is a service organization for the membership, and is continually looking for new ways to improve.

Dr. Scheel carefully selects the staff to assist him in the accreditation process. The college or school who applies for accreditation will be very pleased with the cordial way business is transacted.

QUESTIONS YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO ASK ABOUT ACCREDITATION BUT DID NOT KNOW WHO TO ASK

Q.Is all accreditation the same?

A.No. All accreditation is not the same. Accreditation has many purposes. There are several groups who accredit for different reasons. Accrediting Commission International exists to help the Religious World to obtain accreditation that is not government affiliated.

Q.Is the size of the school a requirement before becoming an accredited member of ACI?

A.No. Accrediting Commission International realizes that some of the most reputable colleges and universities in the world started with only a few students. To name a few: Princeton, Harvard, and The College of William and Mary. ACI sees that quality cannot be finally judged by the size of the student body, the size of the buildings, or rich financial endowments. Students must receive a quality education in a proper climate. We have schools with enrollments in the teens and schools with an enrollment in excess of 2,000. Size is not the final word in accreditation!

Q.How important is a library and its holdings before we can become accredited?

A.While ACI encourages the college or small school to have a vision for a library we do not reject a school on the basis of a faulty library alone. Sometimes schools have access to large public libraries or university libraries only a few blocks from the school. These can be utilized while the school is striving to obtain its own library holdings.

Q.What is the average cost for gaining membership in Accrediting Commission International?

A.Costs vary due to the travel and lodging expenses involved. The total cost usually averages around $2,500.00 from start to finish. The new school must pay a $300.00 application fee when they apply. This is returned if the school, for any reason is turned down at the time of application. The on-site fee is $1,500.00. The on-site fee for foreign schools is $2000.00. The school pays one round-trip airfare from the visitors home location; two nights lodging; and two days car rental. We use supersaver rates at all places. We arrange our own accommodations with great savings. We pass all savings along to the institution.

Q.Do the benefits of membership justify the cost?

A.Yes. Absolutely! One of the first questions a prospective student asks a college or school is, Are You Accredited? Students are looking for quality. Quality Accreditation helps point them in the right direction. Schools use our name as a referral and the testimonies of the schools who use our service are many. Hundreds of students are gained by our membership each year based on the fact that the school is accredited. The cost can easily be covered in added programs and qualities pointed to by our visitor(s).

Q.Are there other real benefits than more students being added?

A.Yes. Accrediting Commission International provides seminars each year. These are located in different areas where interest is noted. These seminars help the school become acquainted with new ideas; new curriculums in current use by other schools and colleges; and legal notifications concerning the business of education; and fellowship of other institutions. ACI also has a twenty-four hour telephone number. If the telephone is not answered and answering machine will answer and we return our calls to serve your needs.

Q.Is an on-site visit essential for every school, even if they have been accredited in the past?

A.Yes. There are several reasons for this. We realize that education today is big business. Since there is financial involvement in this business of education, there are undesirable institutions. We cannot fully know how schools are operating if we do not actually see first hand how they are operating. Accreditation without a personal visit is all but worthless.

Q.Does accreditation make a school above the law of the land?

A.No. ACI members are encouraged to work in the bounds of the laws of the country or state where they live. In the event of an impasse in a legal situation, ACI will remain loyal to its members. It is the School’s responsibility to fight its own case. ACI will provide witnesses at no charge to our members, except for travel and lodging if a court case is necessary.

Q.Do all member schools of ACI accept credits from other members?

A.Yes. One of our requirements is that member schools accept credits from other members if they apply to their programs.

Q.Do other schools outside ACI membership receive our credits?

A.This depends. Some schools, state governments, and industries have accepted credits etc. because of our membership. However, ACI makes no guarantee outside of its own membership.

Q.Will ACI provide members names and addresses to anyone who asks?

A.Our complete mailing list is provided to our membership. We do not provide this list to the general public.

Q.Will ACI recommend our college to potential students?

A.Yes. We receive calls daily. We try to recommend schools which have the nearest to detail of the program the student is looking for. In some cases we do take into consideration geographic location of the school, but sometimes this is not necessary.

Q.Can a school be accredited who offers only correspondence courses?

A.Yes.

Q.Are ACI Schools required to observe civil rights laws where they exit?

A.Yes, ACI insists that our membership does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, creed or national origin.

ACI TEACHER CERTIFICATION

ACI also provides individual membership for teachers with certification by ACI. This is not a requirement for the school to become a member, but we do recommend that a school certify its teachers. This certification is not to be confused with State Teacher Certification. This is a vehicle to let our members know that a teacher is qualified in a certain field to teach subjects for our membership. Administrators may also be certified.

Certification is provided when a MEMBER institution requests it. We do not certify teachers who are not working for one of our members at the time they are certified.

The teacher must furnish a request letter from the member school and a resume. If they have attended official classes at a college in their field they must furnish transcripts of credits. If they have been conferred a degree, a copy of the degree should also be submitted with the application. Please only send copies, as they will not be returned.

The fee for teacher certification is $25.00 per year at all levels. The certificate must be renewed January 1 each year.

ACI does not bill for teacher certification. It is the responsibility of the school and the teacher to renew it each year.

THE STEPS TO TAKE FOR MEMBERSHIP

You have made the first step by ordering a personal information packet. Let me congratulate you for being interested in enhancing the quality of your educational program.

The second step toward being accredited is to fill out the enclosed application form entirely. Have the form notarized with the signature of the director of the school. This application must be accompanied with a check for $300.00. On acceptance of your application form, you will be granted immediate candidate status. If for any reason we do not accept the application, you will be informed of the reason and the $300.00 will be returned.

The certificate for candidate status will expire six months after the date of issue. Sometime during this six month period you will have an on-site visit.

The cost for the entire study is $1,500.00 ($2000.00 Foreign schools) for the reports we make and having them filed with the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.; completing the study; and getting your plaque.

You also pay the travel and lodging expenses for one visitor. This fee also pays the membership dues or the current year for being a member of ACI.

Please read and study a copy of our Quality Guidelines for your consideration. This contains a Code of Ethics for our members. Please understand that your school may not already be complying with all the requirements, but we work with you to improve your program. You will not be turned down if your school is not 100%.

We feel certain that you will be glad you have made the choice to become a part of our membership.

If you have further questions please feel free to contact us.

MAILING ADDRESS:

SCHOOL NAME:

FAX #:

PHONE #:

EMAIL:

NAME:

CONTACT US

Is your school interested in becoming an Accredited Member?

You may use the form below or email us at: scholar@accreditnow.com