Name It and Frame It? is a 1993 book by Steve Levicoff about unaccredited Christian colleges and universities, exploring the accreditation process and the nature of legitimate and illegitimate unaccredited institutions of higher education. The fourth edition contains updated information and responses from some of the surveyed schools. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation,[1] the National Center for Science Education, the Palm Beach Post,[2] the Seattle Times,[3] and the New York Post have mentioned the book as a resource.[4] Additionally, it has been cited by numerous authors, including Julie Anne Duncan,[5] Douglas Flather,[6] John Bear[7] and Allen Ezell.[8]
| Author | Steve Levicoff |
|---|---|
| Genre | Non-fiction |
| Publisher | Institute on Religion and Law |
Publication date | 1992, 1993 |
| Media type | Paperback |
| OCLC | 27784264 |
Contents
editLevicoff surveys various unaccredited Christian schools as well as providing an explanation about various forms of accreditation. Although in the past Levicoff has criticized the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, he notes that TRACS has since "responded positively" to his earlier critiques.[9]
Levicoff argues that a non-accredited school is not necessarily a degree mill.[10] He devotes a chapter to "legitimate unaccredited Christian programs", some notable examples of which include (in the United States): Bob Jones University, Luther Rice University, Messenger College,[11] (all three accredited by TRACS since publication) and (in Canada) Regent College.[12]
Levicoff also surveys "ordination mills", of which one of the more prominent is the Universal Life Church.
The "Institute on Religion and Law", Levicoff's publisher, is a business name used for his personal consulting firm.[citation needed]
Notable universities identified as suspected degree mills
editLevicoff identifies several notable schools as suspected degree mills (page numbers identified are from the third edition); accompanying the school is an analysis of the educational programs.
- Adam Smith University
- Baptist Christian University (author notes it is "affiliated with Louisiana Baptist Theological Seminary") (page 113)
- Christian Bible College (Rocky Mount, North Carolina)
- Clarksville School of Theology (author used it as an example of a bad institution, as the author noted it was closed by decision of the Tennessee Supreme Court)
- Columbia Pacific University
- Columbia State University (Metairie, Louisiana)
- Fairfax University (New Orleans, Louisiana)
- Greenwich University (Hilo, Hawaii)
- LaSalle University (Mandeville, Louisiana)
- Summit Theological Seminary (Fort Wayne, Indiana)
- The Theological University of America (also as the University of America) (New Orleans, Louisiana)
- Vision Christian University (Ramona, California) ("is the successor institution to the Logos Bible College") (page 146)
See also
editBibliography
edit- Levicoff, Steve. Name it & Frame It?: New Opportunities in Adult Education and how to Avoid Being Ripped Off by" Christian" Degree Mills. Institute on Religion and Law, 1993.
Footnotes
edit- ^ Toward Effective Practice: Discouraging Degree Mills in Higher Education Archived 2013-04-03 at the Wayback Machine (Council for Higher Education Accreditation, 2009)
- ^ "EASY DIPLOMAS RELIGIOUS COLLEGES PROLIFERATE; STANDARDS VARY". Palm Beach Post. August 8, 1993. Retrieved 2007-05-17.
- ^ "Wrangling candidates in 9th District share common ground". Seattle Times. September 1, 2003. Retrieved 2007-05-17.
- ^ "Unmasking the False Prophet of Creationism"; National Center for Science Education, September 1, 1999; Jason D. Baker. About Bakers Guide to Christian Distance Education 1997; Christopher Francezcani. "Net scammers offer cheapskins." New York Post. August 1999.
- ^ Julie Anne Duncan, Faith Displayed As Science: The Role of the "Creation Museum" in the Modern American Creationist Movement (National Center for Science Education), page 143.
- ^ Douglas R. Flather, The Resource Guide for Christian Counselors (Baker Publishing, 1996), page 257
- ^ John Bear, Bears' Guide to Earning Degrees by Distance Learning (Ten Speed Press, 2000) page 359.
- ^ Allen Ezell and John Bear, Degree Mills: The Billion-dollar Industry That Has Sold over a Million Fake Diplomas (Prometheus Books, 2012), page 27
- ^ Steve Levicoff. Name It and Frame It? New Opportunities in Adult Education and How to Avoid Being Ripped Off by 'Christian' Degree Mills. (Institute on Religion and Law, third edition 1993), 25
- ^ Levicoff, 33.
- ^ Levicoff, 93-97
- ^ Levicoff, 99-100