Bob Jones University earns accreditation, boosting its prestige

Paul Hyde | The Greenville News

After shunning accreditation for most of its 90-year history, Bob Jones University in the past six years has made achieving the designation a top priority.

On Thursday, the university officially earned regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

The change means more doors will be open throughout the nation to BJU graduates who want to attend graduate school, according to BJU officials.

Students will find it easier to transfer credits to other colleges and universities. Plus, some scholarships are available only for students attending accredited universities.

The boost in prestige also could help BJU's own student recruitment efforts.

"Being granted regional accreditation is one of the biggest milestones in Bob Jones University's 90-year history," BJU President Steve Pettit said in a news release.

"We're deeply grateful for our faculty and staff and proud of what they've accomplished through this process," said Gary Weier, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.

"We believe regional accreditation reassures parents, prospective and current students, employers and other universities that Bob Jones University provides a high-quality education," he said.

The BJU Board of Trustees, for its part, resisted accreditation for 84 years before voting in December 2011 to pursue accreditation.

Former BJU President Stephen Jones saw the need for regional accreditation and won the support of the board, said university spokesman Randy Page.

The decision came in the midst of declining enrollment and after complaints from some alumni who found difficulty getting into graduate schools or obtaining professional certifications in some states.

In 2006, BJU's student enrollment was 4,800. Today, enrollment is about 2,700, Page said.

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Maintaining its vision

BJU met the criteria for accreditation without sacrificing the autonomy cherished by the university and its supporters throughout its history, Page said.

The university did not have to make any changes to its curriculum or rules for student, faculty or staff behavior as part of its application process, Page said. It also did not have to modify its Bible-based policies, its hiring practices or its biblical worldview, he said.

"We set out to obtain regional accreditation and strengthen our mission and, by God's grace, we've accomplished both objectives," Pettit said in a statement.

Regional accreditation "will show prospective employers a BJU education meets high standards and equips our graduates with skills needed in today's world, and it could help graduates entering a profession where a regionally accredited degree is required for licensure or employment," BJU said in a news release.

The path to BJU's accreditation was an extensive, six-year-long process. Prior to applying for membership with SACS, BJU implemented a number of enhancements, including a new board and governance structure, new academic programs in health sciences, curriculum updates, intercollegiate athletics, and a completely renovated dining facility.

Past coverage: Bob Jones Academy earns accreditation

During the process, BJU went through evaluations provided by two peer review committees comprised of faculty and senior administrators from other SACS-member colleges and universities.

Before applying for regional accreditation, BJU chose more than 10 years ago to seek national accreditation through a religious accreditation agency.

BJU holds national accreditation through the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools.

But SACS accreditation is more widely accepted as the standard by graduate schools, companies and many government agencies, Page said.

SACS is an accreditation agency for colleges and universities in the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia as well as Latin America and other international sites.

BJU offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs, ranging from the humanities to professional degree programs such as accounting, nursing and engineering.

Paul Hyde covers education and everything else under the South Carolina sun. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter: @PaulHyde7.