FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The Institute for GOD (Global Outreach Developments, International) Achieves Accredited Status with the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), The Oldest and Largest Accreditor of Bible Colleges
February 14, 2024
President Gregg Garner, Academic Dean Jeffrey Sherrod, VP of Enrollment and Marketing Laurie Kagay, and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Adam Loefffler, stood before ABHE’s Commission on Accreditation on February 14, after a five-year journey to accredited status.
Accreditation takes 5-10 years to complete, and happens in three segments: applicant status, candidate status, and initial accreditation. The Institute applied for and was approved to expedite the process twice on their journey.
Accreditation means a jury of peers has thoroughly vetted a college with decades of professional experience in a higher education institution. Accreditation gives colleges a nod of approval to continue assessing themselves for continued growth, with continued oversight according to the ABHE’s 150 essential elements.
Accreditation entails about 10,000 pages of materials, including a self study, two 5-person visiting teams who spend multiple days interviewing top administrators, faculty, support staff, board members, and students on campus, a review of all school documents, published materials, syllabi, campus facilities, meal plan, housing, etc., two series of written reviews by the Commission (with responses to each by our staff), and a final interview with the Commission on Accreditation Staff. Accreditation examines every part of an institution: faculty, campus, student development, finances, enrollment, retention, growth trajectories, assessment cycles, board of directors, administrative staff, and more.
Accreditation facilitates students' ability to transfer credits to other colleges and pursue higher degrees at different institutions. It streamlines the process, enabling us to assist students in obtaining student visas, and qualifies us for a .edu domain.
President Garner notes this achievement’s historical milestone and is incredibly proud of his team, who worked very hard for this outcome. He notes, “Accreditation doesn’t make us who we are. We serve God, and our primary goal is to do the mission he’s given us. But there is something historic and noteworthy about being a part of this moment, to be a part of the leadership team who saw The Institute for GOD achieve accreditation, something we believe will serve us for a hundred years to come.”
President Garner’s Speech to ABHE’s Commission on Accreditation
Commission Address, February 14, 2024
Ladies and Gentlemen of the ABHE Commission,
My name is Gregg Garner, and I have been so blessed to serve as President for the Institute for Global Outreach Developments for twenty years now. Today, I stand here alongside the chairman of our board, Adam Loeffler, our chief academic officer, Jeffrey Sherrod, and our VP of Enrollment and Marketing, Laurie Kagay. We not only represent ourselves today, but I speak on behalf of our administration, faculty, and students, whose lives have become a testimony to the transformative power of Bible based education.
From the outset, we wanted to develop spiritually mature, competent professionals for global impact. Yet, as with any endeavor rooted in youthful idealism, we faced our fair share of challenges. It was in seeking accreditation from the ABHE that we found not just an evaluative body, but a partner in refining our purpose, processes, and pedagogy.
The journey through accreditation has been a catalyst, igniting introspection and innovation within our institution. It has demanded rigor in academic excellence, integrity in administrative practices, and, most importantly, fidelity to our foundational biblical principles. I stand here today, humbly submitting to you that we believe we are substantially compliant with the standards.
On a personal level, since we began the accreditation process in 2017, we have undergone major challenges as an institution. That same year my mother, who was a key member of our team, died of stage IV cancer at the young age of 62. The following year another key faculty member died of cancer, and in the same month I was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. In 2019 our campus was raided and subject to investigation by several government agencies. In 2021, I was indicted by a grand jury and arrested for allegations related to the raid. This prevented our college from obtaining several governmental assistance programs, including monies from the CARES act, and we had to withdraw our application for Title IV. A month after my arrest, I had to undergo emergency surgery to remove a fist sized tumor from my throat. Two months later, a founding member of our ministry and my best friend for 25 years died in a tragic accident while on mission in El Salvador.
And while all that was happening, by the grace of God, we created an independent board for the college; we saw every faculty member obtain a higher degree in their respective fields; we built a 2 million dollar educational building; we extensively renovated our campus; we implemented an innovative meal program with a 5 star chef; we reformatted our academic programs to accommodate hybrid learning and recorded over 700 hours of video assets; we expanded our programming to incorporate international students where English is a second language; and were twice approved to expedite the accreditation process. Just to name a few of the wonderful things the Lord did during that challenging time period.
And in July of 2022 all charges were dropped and the case was dismissed and all records were expunged. Praise the Lord!
The accreditation process has been a mirror reflecting our institutional identity, strengths, and areas ripe for growth. It has fostered a culture of continuous improvement, where faculty, staff, and students alike are engaged in an ongoing dialogue about quality, relevance, and impact. This culture has permeated every facet of our institution.
Perhaps most importantly, accreditation has underscored the importance of assessment and accountability. We have been able to implement comprehensive systems to measure educational outcomes. This commitment to excellence is now a hallmark of our institution, recognized by peers, students, and the communities we serve.
In closing, I wish to express my deepest gratitude to the ABHE Commission for guiding us through this enriching journey. The accreditation process has not merely been about meeting standards; it has been about exceeding our own expectations, challenging us to dream bigger, reach higher, and impact deeper. As we look to the future, we do so with a renewed sense of purpose, fortified by the knowledge that we are part of a community that values integrity, accountability, and the transformative power of faith-based education.
Thank you.
Gregg Garner, President and Founder of The Institute for GOD
Comments