Important Accreditation Information
Institutions desiring ARTS accreditation go through a process of self-evaluation to determine if their mission and goals are in agreement with those stipulated by the Association. Following completion of the self-evaluation, full membership is determined by the Commission on Accreditation via the process described in the Association’s Bylaws, the Commission’s Policies and Procedures, and Standards of Accreditation. Any institution desiring ARTS accredited membership should consult the documents provided on this page, or complete the contact form to request additional information.
Commission
on Accreditation
The following commissioners make-up the ARTS Commission on Accreditation
- Dr. Dennis Bennett. Class of 2025 – Academic Member: Chairman of the ARTS-COA
- Kyle Kearbey. Class of 2025 – Vice-Chairman of the ARTS-COA
- Dr. John Battle. Class of 2025 – Academic Member
- Dr. Thad James. Class of 2026 – Academic Member
- Paul Bauman. Class of 2026 – Academic Member
- Dana Blair. Class of 2026 – Public Representative
- Dr. Sidney Dyer. Class of 2027 – Academic Member
On August 27, 2024 the COA accepted the resignation of Dr. Patrick Morgan (Class of 2027 – Public Representative) from the COA. The COA expresses its appreciation for his service.
Executive Director for ARTS Commission on Accreditation
Dr. Glenn C. Hoyle
Glenn was appointed Executive Director of ARTS’ Commission on Accreditation effective January 1, 2023. His background is as a training and development professional specializing on the development of online programs and courses. He also served as a member of the ARTS Commission on Accreditation and volunteers assisting with distance learning for online theological programs in Spanish throughout Latin America. In consulting, his recent clients include the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University; AbbVie, Regulatory Affairs Training and Strategic Operations; and the Education Corporation of America. He also served as a Senior Program Development Manager in the Global Education Services department with Wiley where he worked with colleges and universities in designing, implementing and evaluating online programs and courses. His expertise includes creating program assessment plans, conducting program reviews, leading sessions on quality improvements, course and curriculum development. He has direct prior experience as a manager of instructional effectiveness and with the office of instructional research in higher education, and has served as a member of the Chicago Area Assessment Group (CAAG).
Forms &
Documentation
- ARTS Constitution (Amended October 8, 2021)
- ARTS Bylaws (Amended November 1, 2024)
- ARTS COA Policies & Procedures (Amended September 26, 2022)
ARTS Membership Documents
- ARTS COA Standards of Accreditation (Amended October 31, 2024
- ARTS Applicant, Candidate Fee and Process (Amended November 2022)
- Application to become an Accredited Member (PDF)
- ARTS COA Self-Study Guide
- ARTS Member Annual Reporting and Accreditation Maintenance Requirements
ARTS Site-Visit Instructions
ARTS Affiliate Documents
Actions &
Announcements
2024
October 31-Nov 1, 2024, ARTS annual meeting is held on the campus of Metro Baltimore Seminary, Marriottsville, MD.
September 13, 2024, upon review of their membership application, ARTS-COA votes to advance Reformed Baptist Seminary to Applicant Status.
July 25-26, 2024, ARTS-COA conducted a 5-year reaffirmation site visit for Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary (CBTS) in Owensboro KY and issues a site-visit report on September 10th.
June 14, 2024, ARTS-COA vote to approve Christ our Redeemer Seminary’s (CORS) application for membership and advance CORS to Applicant Status.
May 13, 2024, ARTS-COA receives recognition from CHEA (Council for Higher Education Accreditation) as a CHEA recognized accreditor.
2023
December 15, 2023, ARTS-COA votes to approve Appliant status to Faith Theological Seminary of Catonsville, pending paymet of application fee. Gate Institute is also approved by the COA as a new affiliate institution.
October 5-6, 2023, ARTS-COA conducts Annual Meeting on the campus of CBTS in Owensboro, KY. In official actions the ARTS-COA voted to award accreditation to Metro Baltimore Seminary, and accreditation with a letter of notation to Grace Bible Theological Seminary.
September 12-13, 2023, The COA conducts a site visit of Western Reformed Seminary for its 10-year reaccreditation.
September 7, 2023, The COA votes to issue a Letter of Commendation and Continuance to Metro Atlanta Seminary (MAS) based on the successful resolution of the issues in the letter of notation from the MAS site visit in 2022.
April 18-19, 2023, The COA conducts a site visit for Grace Bible Theological Seminary in Conway, Arkansas.
March 22-23, 2023, The COA conducts a site visit for the Metro Baltimore Seminary.
March 10, 2023, Metro Baltimore Seminary and Grace Bible Theological Seminary achieve Candidate status on the basis of their initial Self-Studies.
February 14, 2023, ARTS BOD votes to confirm two new public representatives to the COA, Patrick Morgan and Dana Blair.
Feburary 10, 2023, COA issues a letter of notation to Metro Atlanta Seminary for follow up items on its site visit.
2022
November 20, 2022, COA votes to approve Carey International University of Theology as an Affiliate Member.
November 14, 2022, Members of the COA meet with CHEA Commissioners in Washington D.C. for accreditation review.
October 7, 2022, Annual ARTS meeting held in Birmingham, AL.
July 13-14, 2022, Metro Atlanta Seminary 5-Year Re-affirmation Self-Study completed
January 14, 2022, COA votes to expand its committee from five to seven members
2021
July 2021, Toronto Baptist Seminary Initial Site-visit conducted
October 7, 2021, Toronto Baptist Seminary voted to be received as members by the COA
October 7, 2021, Grace Bible Theological Seminary submit application for accreditation
October 8, 2021, Annual ARTS Meeting facilitated
October 8, 2021, ARTS Constitution amended
October 24, 2021, Metro Baltimore Seminary submits application for accreditation
November 8-9, 2021, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary 10-Year Re-affirmation Self-Study completed
2020
October 8, 2020, Toronto Baptist Seminary approved as a candidate for ARTS accreditation
October 9, 2020, ARTS Annual Meeting facilitated via zoom
November 5, 2020, Tyndale International University is denied applicant status
2020, ARTS submits CHEA application
2019
October 3-4, 2019, ARTS Annual Meeting facilitated
2019, Geneva Reformed Seminary voluntarily withdraws from ARTS Membership
2019, 10-year reaffirmation self-study conducted for Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary
July 26-28, 2019, Initial Site-visit for Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary Conducted by COA
October 3, 2019, Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary admitted as member
October 10, 2019, COA approved Toronto Baptist Seminary as an applicant for ARTS accreditation.
October 10, 2019, The COA approved Tyndale International University as an applicant for ARTS accreditation
2018
October 15, 2018 – The ARTS Commission on Accreditation approved Tyndale International University as an applicant for ARTS accreditation.
2017
March 31, 2017 – The ARTS Commission on Accreditation has approved Grace Bible Institute as the newest ARTS affiliate.
2016
October 17, 2016 – Metro Atlanta Seminary of Atlanta, GA was granted ARTS Accreditation Status by the ARTS Commission on Accreditation at its annual meeting held October 17, 2016, at Birmingham Theological Seminary.
September 28, 2016 – Universidad Seminario Reformado Latinoamericano of Florida and Colombia has been approved by the ARTS Commission on Accreditation as an ARTS affiliate.
August 17, 2016 – PUBLIC NOTICE – The ARTS Commission on Accreditation will hold its annual meeting from 12:30 pm – 5:30 pm on Monday, October 17, 2016, at Birmingham Theological Seminary.
August 8, 2016 – Heidelberg Theological Seminary of Sioux Falls, SD has been approved by the ARTS Commission on Accreditation as an ARTS affiliate.
July 5, 2016 – PUBLIC NOTICE: Metro Atlanta Seminary (MAS) has been approved for ARTS Candidate status. Their public accreditation site-visit is scheduled for August 18-20, 2016 at MAS Atlanta offices.
July 1, 2016 – ARTS welcomes Mr. Lewis Young as its newest commissioner for the ARTS Commission on Accreditation.
May 15, 2016 – PUBLIC NOTICE: ARTS Commission on Accreditation is conducting its 10-year accreditation reaffirmation review of Birmingham Theological Seminary on June 16 – 18, 2016.
May 7, 2016 – ARTS Commission on Accreditation welcomes Tyndale International University as an ARTS affiliate.
April 15, 2016 – Birmingham Theological Seminary’s 10-year ARTS accreditation reaffirmation site-visit is scheduled for June 16-18, 2016.
2015
November 3, 2015 – Metro Atlanta Seminary granted ARTS Applicant Status.
October 5, 2015 – ARTS Commission on Accreditation annual meeting will be at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Taylors, South Carolina from 1 pm – 6 pm.
August 11, 2015 – A warm welcome to Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary as an ARTS affiliate.
July 25, 2015 – ARTS and the ARTS Commissioners welcome Reformed Baptist Seminary as an ARTS affiliate.
2014
October 20, 2014 – The ARTS Commission on Accreditation held its annual meeting at New Geneva Seminary, Colorado Springs, Colorado from 4-7 pm.
August 2014 – ARTS is pleased to welcome Whitefield Theological Seminary as an ARTS affiliate.
July 2014 – ARTS is delighted to welcome The North American Reformed Seminary as an ARTS affiliate.