ACSI Elevate: Higher Education Program
The ACSI Elevate Higher Education program empowers Christian colleges and universities to amplify their impact by joining a like-minded community focused on developing biblically grounded leaders. Together, let’s equip students to lead with purpose in education, service, and faith.
Membership
Through ELEVATE MEMBERSHIP, institutions gain access to strategic partnerships, K–12 engagement opportunities, and platforms to showcase academic programs and enrich campus life.
Partnerships
As institutions advance through tiers of ELEVATE PARTNERSHIPS, they deepen their collaboration with ACSI—strengthening their role in preparing the next generation of Christ-centered global leaders.
Accreditation
The HIGHER EDUCATION ACCREDITATION PROGRAM (HEAP) strengthens Christian colleges and universities by aligning teacher preparation with a biblical philosophy of education, fostering student spiritual formation, and more.
Elevate Higher Education Membership
ACSI Higher Education Membership
Christian higher education institutions play a vital role in shaping the next generation of leaders, educators, and professionals who will serve around the world. These institutions are dedicated to equipping students with both academic excellence and a strong biblical foundation. As colleges and universities work to prepare students for their future vocations, ACSI is committed to supporting and equipping Christian higher education institutions globally:
- Members have access to ACSI research and resources, such as Research in Brief and the Legal Legislative Update.
- ACSI membership provides Christian colleges and universities the opportunity to connect with ACSI member high schools in various settings such as highlighting programs, scholarships, and campus experiences.
Member Benefits for Christian Colleges and Universities
ACSI Elevate Higher Ed Membership is designed for Christian colleges and universities. Key benefits and opportunities of this membership include:
Visibility & Promotion
- Institutional listing on the ACSI website, including a direct link to the institution’s website.
- Promotion of scholarship opportunities for students and employees of ACSI member schools.
- Listing of ACSI-approved coursework and professional development programs that support certification requirements for school faculty, staff, and leaders.
- Opportunities to showcase academic programs, scholarships, and campus experiences to ACSI-member high schools.
- Advanced promotional opportunities available through additional Strategic Partner tiers
Networking & Partnerships
- Access to a network of ACSI-member K-12 schools for student recruitment, collaboration, and partnership opportunities.
- Direct engagement with schools whose students have been recognized as Distinguished Christian High School Students by ACSI.
Resources & Services
- Subscription to ACSI publications, including the Legal Legislative Update.
- Complimentary access to members-only content on ACSI Online PD.
- Career Center benefits, including five free job postings annually.
Events & Thought Leadership
- Priority consideration to host ACSI events (e.g., Leadership Network Meetings, Flourish Deeper, Student Leadership & Learning programs).
- Opportunities to present research and speak at ACSI conferences and events.
- Presidential Convening – an exclusive gathering of Christian higher education presidents to discuss best practices and institutional leadership.
Research & Educational Insights
- Access to ACSI research studies, data on Christian education trends, and insights on student faith formation.
- Engagement opportunities with Research Fellows and Thought Leadership Programs to contribute to and benefit from cutting-edge educational research.
Accreditation
- Elevate Members have exclusive access to ACSI’s Higher Education Accreditation Program (HEAP). Note: HEAP requires a separate application/fee, self-study, and site visit. View other eligibility requirements for HEAP.
Eligibility Requirements for Membership
Your institution must be accredited by a recognized (CHEA) accrediting agency, or, if not accredited by an approved accrediting agency, submit the following documentation to ACSI for evaluation and verification prior to membership approval:
- Most recent institutional catalog
- Proof of four years of existence
- Proof of state, country, or provincial recognition as a degree-granting institution
- Proof of faculty credentials and curricular credibility
- Proof that credits transfer to fully accredited undergraduate or graduate institutions
- Any other information deemed appropriate to assist in evaluation
Elevate Higher Education Partnerships
Partnership Overview
Amplify your impact through ACSI Strategic Partnerships.
Available exclusively to Elevate Members, these enhanced partnership tiers offer institutions a unique opportunity to deepen their collaboration with ACSI—advancing shared goals and equipping students to influence the world for Christ.
Higher Education Accreditation Program
The ACSI Higher Education Accreditation Program (HEAP) is programmatic accreditation offered to the teacher education program/department of currently accredited ACSI member Christian liberal arts colleges, universities, and Bible colleges. Colleges and universities seeking to participate in the program must give evidence of a commitment to preparing teachers and administrators to serve in Christian schools and must show they are encouraging their graduates to prayerfully consider serving in Christian schools around the world. HEAP involves an application, an institutional self-study, and a site visit from peer Christian educators in a process similar to other accreditation protocols.
Revised protocol coming soon.
ACSI Higher Education Accreditation Program (HEAP) Benefits Include:
- Automatic initial ACSI certification free of charge for qualified graduates from approved programs
- Consideration of faculty as potential ACSI higher education professional development partners (development of online content for ACSI PD, and approval to present at ACSI professional development events)
- Designation on ACSI website as a HEAP institution
Eligibility Requirements for HEAP
HEAP is programmatic accreditation for the teacher education program/department of currently accredited Christian colleges/universities. (Please note: ACSI does not offer institutional accreditation to higher education institutions).
To be eligible for programmatic accreditation with ACSI, the program to be accredited must:
- Be from an ACSI member institution, in good standing.
- Be accredited by an agency recognized by the Commission for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Colleges outside the United States must be recognized as an approved degree-granting institution by their ministry of education, or higher education commission equivalent to CHEA.
- Give evidence of its commitment to preparing educators and/or administrators for ministry in all areas of Christian education for which ACSI certificates are issued. This may be a track, cohort, or the entire teacher education program.
- Provide the opportunity for students to have observation, practicum, and student teaching experience, some of which are done in a Christian school setting.
- Produce graduates who reflect a pervasive Christian testimony and have an understanding of the following:
–– a Christian world and life view
–– the philosophy of Christian school education
–– the distinctives of Christian schooling
–– biblical integration in instruction
–– academic and professional training
–– leadership services
- Have been in existence a minimum of four years (five years for graduate programs).
- Have had a graduating class prior to bringing a visiting team onsite.
- Have a minimum of three full-time faculty members or the equivalent FTE (two for graduate programs).
- Ensure students involved in HEAP complete a minimum of three semester hours (for Standard level certification) and/or six semester hours (for Professional level certification) in biblical studies.
- Ensure appropriate levels of professional and general studies are completed for each degree as set by the standards for ACSI certification
- Ensure students and faculty involved in HEAP sign ACSI’s statement of faith
Email highereducation@acsi.org for more information on HEAP
