The wait is over! At their January meeting, the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) voted to grant accreditation to Redemption Seminary. The announcement letter we received from DEAC on February 23rd explains why this is a such significant milestone:
“Accreditation by DEAC is a reliable indicator of the value and quality of the distance education that an institution offers. In receiving this initial grant of accreditation, Redemption Seminary has demonstrated its commitment to educational standards and ethical business practices that assure quality, accountability, and improvement in higher education.”
Why DEAC? As an agency that specializes in accreditation of institutions offering degrees primarily through distance education, DEAC has been recognized by the U. S. Department of Education since 1959, and is also recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), which “accredits accreditors.” This means that DEAC accreditation is second to none in terms of federal recognition and the high standards to which accreditors are held accountable by CHEA. Because Redemption Seminary offers all its programs through distance education, the expertise of DEAC’s staff, Commissioners, and peer institutions has been invaluable. With the distinction between regional and national accreditation eliminated at the federal level and some accreditors keeping requirements in place that apply only to traditional seminary models (such as substantial physical facilities and group-based instruction), DEAC proved to be the best choice for Redemption’s pursuit of accreditation in light of our commitments to self-paced distance learning and 1:1 student-faculty interaction. DEAC is a peer community of institutions (including faith-based institutions) serving hundreds of thousands of students through distance education, and we have greatly benefited from the conferences we have attended and the many colleagues we have learned from during the accreditation process.
What is next for Redemption? During the accreditation review period, it was not possible to make any substantive changes to our curriculum or programs. Now that Redemption is accredited, we can turn more of our energy toward enhancing our educational offerings with new courses and programs while continuing to improve all our existing offerings and services to students. Keep an eye on this blog for future updates on the new courses and programs we will be offering. We thank the Lord for the grace he has given us to reach accreditation, and we trust him to lead us forward as we all continue to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
— Dr. Joel Wingo, Academic Dean
Watch this short interview to hear more about accreditation and hear from a recent Redemption Seminary graduate about his experience and how he is using his degree, learning, and why Redemption Seminary is aptly named.
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