La Sierra University released a report on the Adventist Accreditation Association’s visit of last fall. According to the report, AAA thinks LSU “should receive the maximum accreditation possible under AAA guidelines.” The AAA team gave 32 commendations. Larry Becker notes three of those commendations in his report: 1) The University Studies Council for developing and refining the University Studies curriculum; 2) the School of Education administration for developing, implementing, and distributing the results of the CognitiveGenesis project; 3) Office of Integrated Marketing for implementing the new communication initiative, including a new logo, website, brand identity and communication tools, etc.
Becker also reports AAA will return to LSU no later than December 31, 2012, to reexamine campus progress on four major recommendations. The most notable recommendation states the administration and faculty enhance the “classroom for students and faculty with traditional Adventist views, seeking balance by presenting a range of views and supporting student expression according to the principles of academic freedom.”
“The full Adventist Accrediting Association board will receive the team’s report during its April 2011 meeting, and make the final decision on La Sierra’s term of accreditation.”
Something not mentioned in the report by Becker is news AAA insisted LSU send their faculty to other Adventist universities to learn how to present creationism. At least four universities have been contacted to see if they would be willing to participate, according to reports from university faculty. It’s been confirmed that Southwestern Adventist University was not contacted at the time of this article. Educate Truth contacted a few of the other universities, but received no official comment.
UPDATE 2/10/2011: Contrary to reports that AAA insisted LSU send their faculty to other universities to learn how to present creationism, Educate Truth has learned the idea originated with the LSU Provost’s office.
