Member Benefits

Member Benefits for Christian Colleges and Universities

  1. ACSI Website
    • Listing as a member institution on ACSI website, with link to institutional website;
    • Listing of any scholarship offerings (for students or member school employees) on ACSI website;
    • Listing of any ACSI-approved coursework and available professional development opportunities for Christian school faculty, staff, and leaders (that leads to meeting certification requirements).
  2. ACSI Lists
    • A listing of ACSI member high schools with contact information;
    • Access to ACSI's list of Distinguished Christian High School Student Award winners.
  3. ACSI Services
    • Subscription to ACSI publications, including Legal Legislative Update.
  4. ACSI Sponsor Program
    • Membership fee is applied toward sponsorship level;
    • Application fee of $1500 is waived.

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

In Addition, the Higher Education Accreditation Program (HEAP) includes:

  1. Automatic initial ACSI certification free of charge for qualified graduates from approved programs;
  2. Consideration of faculty and students as potential ACSI Higher Education Professional Development Partners (development of online content for ACSI PD, and approval to present at ACSI professional development events);
  3. 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:

  1. be from an ACSI member institution, in good standing.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. provide the opportunity for students to have observation, practicum, and student teaching experience, some of which are done in a Christian school setting.
  5. 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

  6. have been in existence a minimum of four years (five years for graduate programs).
  7. have had a graduating class prior to bringing a visiting team onsite.
  8. have a minimum of three full-time faculty members or the equivalent FTE (two for graduate programs).
  9. 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.
  10. ensure appropriate levels of professional and general studies are completed for each degree as set by the standards for ACSI certification
  11. ensure students and faculty involved in HEAP sign ACSI’s statement of faith 

Email highereducation@acsi.org for more information on HEAP