Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools
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2008-03-27T15:39:17Z
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[[Image:tracs.PNG|thumb|right|TRACS]]
The '''Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools''' (TRACS) is a [[United States|U.S.]] national [[educational accreditation]] agency for Christian colleges, universities, and seminaries. TRACS, which is based in [[Forest, Virginia]], is recognized by the [[United States Department of Education]] and the [[Council for Higher Education Accreditation]].[http://www.chea.org/pdf/CHEA_USDE_AllAccred.pdf].
==History==
TRACS is "a voluntary, non-profit, self-governing organization to provide accreditation to Christian postsecondary institutions offering associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees."<ref name="TRACSOfficial">{{cite news | url=http://tracs.org/ | title=TRACS: Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools | publisher=Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools | date=2007 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2007-05-04}}</ref> The organization was founded in 1979 to "promote the welfare, interests, and development of postsecondary institutions, whose mission is characterized by a distinctly Christian purpose."<ref name="TRACSOfficial" /> According to the [[Institute for Creation Research|Institute for Creation Research Graduate School]] (ICR and ICRGS), TRACS is a "product of the ICR Graduate School" and was created "Because of the prejudice against creation-science, outspoken creationist schools such as ICRGS used to stand little or no chance of getting recognition through accreditation."<ref>{{cite news | title= The ICR Graduates | author=Sandra Blakeslee| url=http://www.icr.org/article/495/| format= | publisher=[[Institute for Creation Research]] | date=2007 | accessdate=2007-11-26 }}</ref>
TRACS was first recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) in 1991 as a national accrediting body with authority for the "accreditation and preaccreditation ("Candidate" status) of postsecondary institutions in the United States that offer certificates, diplomas, and associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees, including institutions that offer distance education." The USDE reauthorized TRACS in 2004. Its next scheduled review by the USDE is in 2009.<ref name="USDE">[http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/accreditation_pg8.html#chred US Department of Education, National Institutional and Specialized Accrediting Bodies]</ref>
TRACS is also a "full member" of the [[International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education]].[http://www.inqaahe.org/members_view.cfm?typ=1&mID=3&sID=5]
==Criticism and controversy==
TRACS's first application for federal recognition in 1987 was denied, but in 1991, [[United States Secretary of Education|U.S. Education Secretary]] [[Lamar Alexander]] "approved TRACS, despite his advisory panel's repeatedly recommending against recognition."<ref>Scott Jaschik, Rejecting Review Board’s Advice, Alexander Grants Federal Recognition to Christian Accrediting Body, Chron. of Higher Educ., Sept. 4, 1991 at A40.</ref><ref name="Chronicle">[[Steve Levicoff]]. ''[[Name It and Frame It?]]''. (3rd edition) Institute on Religion and Law. 1993 (page 25) ASIN B0006F1PCQ</ref>
In 1993, [[Steve Levicoff]] self-published a book-length critical discussion of TRACS, ''When the TRACS Stop Short: An Evaluation and Critique of the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools.''<ref name="Chronicle" /> Levicoff criticized TRACS's expedited accreditation of [[Liberty University]] and its creation of a category for schools which it called ''associate schools.'' While this category "was not considered an official accreditation," Levicoff argued that TRACS lent its name to a number of "blatantly fraudulent institutions."<ref name="DinosaurTRACS">{{cite news | url=http://www.nexusjournal.org/2002judicial/dinosaurtracsRTP.htm | title=Dinosaur TRACS: The Approaching Conflict between Establishment Clause Jurisprudence And College Accreditation Procedures|publisher=[[Nexus (law journal)]] from [[Chapman University School of Law]] | date=March 24, 2002 | first=Timothy | last=Sandefur | accessdate = 2006-11-04}}</ref>
Another source of criticism was the 1991 granting of accreditation to the [[Institute for Creation Research]]. One of TRACS' board members was [[Henry M. Morris]], founder of ICR. Timothy Sandefur, a fellow at the [[Claremont Institute]], called Morris's position on the board "highly questionable".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.pandasthumb.org/archives/2004/03/how_the_icr_got.html | title=How the ICR got its accreditation|publisher=[[Panda's Thumb weblog|Panda's Thumb]] | date=March 29, 2004 | first=Timothy | last=Sandefur | accessdate = 2006-11-04}}</ref> Levicoff states, "Morris' influence is so strong that TRACS attaches a two page defense of the [[young earth]] position (written by Morris) to their doctrinal statement."<ref>[[Steve Levicoff]]. ''[[Name It and Frame It?]]''. (3rd edition) Institute on Religion and Law. 1993 (page 24) ASIN B0006F1PCQ</ref> In 2007 Morris' son asked TRACS to terminate ICR' accredited status.<ref>http://www.tracs.org/DOE_Nov07.pdf</ref> The reason was, in part, that the ICR moved to Texas<ref>[http://www.texscience.org/reviews/icr-thecb-certification.htm The ICR Quest for Official Texas Certification<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and the state does not recognize TRACS.<ref>http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/reports/docfetch.cfm?DocID=1254&Format=PDF</ref>
Due to Levicoff's book TRACS instituted positive changes.<ref name="Chronicle" /> In 1995, a federal review was conducted and resulted in probation. Improvements were made, including eliminating the "associate schools" category and changing chairmen.<ref name="DinosaurTRACS" /> In 2004, the USDE reauthorized TRACS without conditions.<ref name="USDE" />
==See also==
* [[List of recognized accreditation associations of higher learning]]
* [[Regional accreditation]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.tracs.org/ Transnational Association of Christian Colleges], official site
*[http://tracs.org/accredited.htm Accredited institutions] (by TRACS)
*[http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.asp Institution Accreditation] at the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education
*[http://chronicle.com/che-data/articles.dir/art-41.dir/issue-40.dir/40a02801.htm Christian Accrediting Group Faulted in Federal Review] June 16, 1995 by Scott Jaschik
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1979]]
[[Category:School accreditors]]
[[Category:Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools|*]]