LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 150

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OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

3.9.6.4.1 Affiliated colleges and universities shall undergo accreditation with respect to the Lutheran Identity and Mission
Outcome Standards, both comprehensively as institutions and
with regard to the specific requirements of each implemented
program intended to result in candidacy for one of the Synod’s
categories of commissioned ministry or in preparedness for
seminary study.
(a) The ordinary, nominal period of institution and program accreditation shall be six years. Ordinary accreditation reviews
shall attend to both summative and formative elements, evaluating present performance relative to the Standards but also
fostering, monitoring, and advancing initiatives in pursuit of
the Standards. A focused review of a specific alleged breach
of the Standards, however, may be initiated by the commission at any time.
(b) The commission may, if an accreditation or focused review
finds that an institution or program is at risk of not fulfilling
the Standards, place the institution or program under a notice
of concern, which may, at the commission’s option, be made
public. The commission may lift notice at any time it determines the risk has been satisfactorily addressed.
(c) The commission may, upon finding an accredited institution
to be in breach of the Standards, either on the basis of a regular accreditation report or of a focused review, place the institution on probation for up to a two-year period, which may be
extended once for two years and once for one year, but to no
more than five years total, if the commission determines that
substantial progress has been made and that verifiable plans
and resources are in place to bring the institution into compliance. Probation may be lifted earlier by the commission. An
institution not in compliance at the conclusion of the probationary period is no longer accredited or entitled to benefits
of accreditation, can no longer declare graduates qualified for
placement, and is no longer commended by the commission
to the church.
(d) The commission may, upon finding an accredited church
work preparation program to be in breach of the Standards,
either on the basis of a regular accreditation report or of a
focused review, place the program on probation for up to a
one-year period, which may be extended twice, each extension by up to one year, but to no more than three years total, if
the commission determines that substantial progress has been
made and that verifiable plans and resources are in place to
bring the institution into compliance. Probation may be lifted
earlier by the commission. A program not in compliance at
the conclusion of the probationary period is no longer accredited and therefore cannot certify graduates as qualified
for initial placement or be commended and acknowledged
as a suitable program of preseminary preparation, as the case
may be.
(e) An institution or program under probationary accreditation
is not “in good accreditation standing” for purposes of these
Bylaws.
3.9.6.4.2 In consultation with its Institution Advisory Council,
the Commission for University Education shall implement and
maintain policies governing, and shall supervise, the process of
accreditation for the affiliated colleges and universities on the
basis of the Lutheran Identity and Mission Outcome Standards.
(a) In preparation for accreditation, each institution and church
work program shall provide, on the basis of a thorough self2023 Convention Workbook

study, a written report evidencing compliance with the criteria and core components of the Standards, as evaluated by the
stated measurable factors, as well as indicating any relevant
explanatory factors and initiated or planned efforts to improve
specific aspects of performance relative to the Standards. It
shall especially address any issues noted in previous reviews
or specifically requested by the commission. The self-study
shall be delivered to and reviewed by the commission.
(b) An accreditation team, assembled by the commission upon
review of the self-study report or recommendation of its Institution Advisory Council, shall itself review the self-study
report and then visit the institution, interacting with its board
of regents, administration, faculty, campus ministry staff, and
students. An effective visitation, with broad and unimpeded
access to campus program information, policies, and personnel, shall be facilitated by the institution. Each implemented
or proposed church work and preseminary program shall receive specific attention.
(c) The accreditation team shall compile a report of its visit and
associated findings, which shall be shared with the commission and the institution. After allowing 60 days for the institution to respond in writing to the team’s report, the commission shall, with regard to the institution and each of its
implemented or proposed church work programs: (1) grant or
extend accreditation without concerns; or (2) grant or extend
accreditation with concerns (notice); or (3) place the institution or program on probation; or (4) deny, in the case of an
initial application, or initiate withdrawal of accreditation; or
(5) initiate further investigation, with the same or a new accreditation team.
(d) The institution reviewed may within 30 days of being notified of the commission’s accreditation determination(s)
submit a written appeal and/or response to the commission’s
determination. Once the commission has, within 30 days of
its receipt, considered and acted upon any such appeal, its
determination is final and not subject to further appeal.
(e) Within the above 30-day period for request of an appeal or
within 7 days of receipt of the commission’s negative action
on a requested appeal, an institution may state a corrective
action plan and request the commission, acting in its sole discretion, to grant a delay of up to 6 months in the publication
of a negative accreditation result to allow initiation of the
plan. The commission may at its option require a summary of
the action plan, composed by the institution and approved by
the commission, to be published with any revised accreditation outcome.
(f) At the conclusion of the above, the accreditation status of
each institution and its programs, together with summary reports of accreditation reviews, any imposition(s) of notice or
probation, and any withdrawal(s) of accreditation, shall be
timely made available to the Synod through a publicly accessible website. The information presented shall be of a depth
and character that would allow members of the Synod to
evaluate the churchly character, relative value, and mission
effectiveness of each institution and program, and to understand concretely the steps being taken to improve the same.
(g) Accreditation teams, composed of members of member congregations of the Synod and assembled and organized by the
commission, shall include representation from peer boards of
regents, administrations, and faculties, and a district presi-