Accreditation
Rivendell is committed to becoming fully accredited by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education.Any new academic institution faces the initial process of gaining accreditation. Although the process may take three to five years, educational institutions are often granted pre-accreditation status after one year, which simplifies the process of transferring academic credits to other institutions. Pre-accreditation status also allows students to receive low-interest government grants and loans.
The Rivendell higher-learning program has been reviewed by Dr. Jim Worthington, the former Dean of the School of Education at George Fox University. Dr. Worthington currently serves as a Consultant Evaluator for Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities, one of the 5 major accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Dept. of Education. In addition, Dr. Worthington served 5 years as a Consultant Evaluator for North Central Associations Higher Learning Commission, also one of the 5 major accrediting agencies. North Central is the agency through which Rivendell will be seeking its accreditation.
In the meantime, Rivendell’s application asks students to inform us as to where they would like to attend college after completing our program. This gives us 18 months to begin the matriculation process of transferring credits to the college of their choice.“After thirty-five years in Christian Higher Education, I have discovered an innovative approach to preparing college students for life. It gives me great joy and great hope to recommend this unique program of study featuring Liberal Arts, Biblical Studies and International Learning opportunities. Rivendell’s mission is clearly designed to ensure the development of a biblical worldview on all of life. My review of the Rivendell Business Plan and meeting with the senior management has convinced me that Rivendell Sanctuary can be accredited by the North Central Association’s (NCA) Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Rivendell’s senior management has created a unique plan to meet the five major criteria required by the HLC for regional accreditation. For example: 1) Mission and Integrity are integral to this plan; 2) Rivendell’s leadership has a unique plan of developing and allocating its resources to develop the capacity to fulfill its mission; 3) A plan for effective teaching and learning; 4) Application of knowledge to promote a life of learning; and 5) Identification of Rivendell’s constituencies and well-developed plans to engage and serve them.”