as of April 21, 2021

Central Baptist Theological Seminary

6601 Monticello Road
Shawnee, KS 66226-3513
(913) 667-5700
www.cbts.edu

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The information on this page describes the accreditation relationship between this institution and the Higher Learning Commission. General information about the Commission and the accreditation process is provided at the end of this document. In addition, links to definitions are provided for many of the terms used.

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Accreditation Information

Current status: Accredited

Candidacy date(s):

04/13/1977 - 07/22/1979

Accreditation granted:

07/23/1979

Most recent reaffirmation of accreditation: 2018 - 2019
     • Action Letter (PDF)

Next reaffirmation of accreditation: 2028 - 2029

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Upcoming or In-Progress Reviews

Date	Event	Description
03/13/2023:	Comprehensive Evaluation
2028 - 2029:	Comprehensive Evaluation

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Most Recent History with the Commission

Date	Event	Description
07/23/2020:	Interim Report	Report Accepted- Finances/Audit
01/28/2020:	Monitoring, Financial Indicator	Interim Report Requested
12/03/2018:	Comprehensive Evaluation	Interim Report Requested
08/08/2018:	Monitoring, Financial Indicator	Waived - Since institution either recently submitted a report or hosted a visit related to finances, or will be submitting a report or hosting a visit related to finances, no further review is required at this time.
01/23/2017:	Interim Report	Report Accepted- Non-Financial Indicators
05/16/2016:	Monitoring, Non-financial Indicator	Interim Report Requested
03/09/2015:	Comprehensive Evaluation	Interim Report Requested - The readers reviewed the teams work and evidence and did not concur that the individual items rose to the level of formal monitoring. The visiting team rendered excellent advice to the institution on a number of critical issues that need to be addressed. However, the overall evidence presented suggests that Central Baptist Theological Seminary possesses the mechanisms and the people to address most of these recommended improvements internally without a Commission mandate for multiple monitoring reports. Moreover, many of the needed improvements identified by the team revolve around or emanate from the institution's financial status and its consequent resource limitations that are well documented by the team in its review of Criterion Five. Monitoring is clearly required for core component Criterion Five-A concerns, as expressed under the recommended action above.
12/19/2011:	Reaffirmation of Accreditation (PEAQ)
10/18/2010:	Financial Panel Recommendation	Added Monitoring report on finances
08/28/2009:	Focused Evaluations - Commission Mandated
02/06/2007:	Comprehensive Evaluation - Continued Accreditation

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General Institutional Information

This section provides brief, general information about the institution’s organization and scope. The information is self-reported by the institution through the annual Institutional Update to the Commission. Additional information can be found at nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ or on the institution’s web site noted above.

Control: Private NFP

Degree programs (number in each category): Masters (4), Doctoral (1)

Certificate programs (number offered): 1

Off-Campus Activities (This listing was last updated: 03/24/2021; the information may not be current.) The institution’s accreditation includes courses and programs at:

In-State:		Campuses:		None.
		Additional Locations:		None.
Out-of-State:		Campuses:		None.
		Additional Locations:		CBTS – Ann Arbor - Ann Arbor, MI; CBTS-Austin - Austin, TX; CBTS-Dallas - Carrollton, TX; Des Moines - Des Moines, WA; Milwaukee - Elm Grove, WI; Dallas - Farmers Branch, TX; CBTS -- Houston - Houston, MO; CBTS-Atlanta - Lawrenceville, GA; Los Angeles - Los Angeles, CA; Scarritt-Bennett Center - Nashville, TN; CBTS-Chicago - Park Ridge, IL; CBTS -- St. Louis - St. Louis, MO;
Out-of-U.S.:		Campuses:		None.
		Additional Locations:		Calvin University - Giheung, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF;

Location	Campuses	Additional Locations
In-State:	None.	None.
Out-of-State:	None.	CBTS – Ann Arbor - Ann Arbor, MI; CBTS-Austin - Austin, TX; CBTS-Dallas - Carrollton, TX; Des Moines - Des Moines, WA; Milwaukee - Elm Grove, WI; Dallas - Farmers Branch, TX; CBTS -- Houston - Houston, MO; CBTS-Atlanta - Lawrenceville, GA; Los Angeles - Los Angeles, CA; Scarritt-Bennett Center - Nashville, TN; CBTS-Chicago - Park Ridge, IL; CBTS -- St. Louis - St. Louis, MO;
Out-of-U.S.:	None.	Calvin University - Giheung, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF;

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About HLC and Accreditation

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is a regional accreditation agency that accredits degree-granting colleges and universities that are based in a 19-state region of the United States.

Regional accreditation validates the quality of an institution as a whole and evaluates multiple aspects of an institution, including its academic offerings, governance and administration, mission, finances, and resources. HLC’s institutional accreditation includes all degree levels as well as onsite and online offerings. Institutions of higher education in the United States may also seek accreditation through national or specialized accreditation agencies. National accreditation associations, like regional accreditors, accredit the institution as a whole. Specialized accreditation agencies accredit programs, departments or schools within a college or university.

Regional accreditation agencies are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit degree-granting colleges and universities. There are six regions of the United States which regional agencies oversee. The regional accreditation agencies have similar standards for accrediting colleges and universities.

Institutions that HLC accredits are evaluated against its Criteria for Accreditation, a set of standards that institutions must meet to receive and/or maintain accredited status.

HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation reflect a set of guiding values. The accreditation process is based on a system of peer review. Approximately 1,600 educators from institutions of higher education serve as HLC peer reviewers conducting accreditation evaluations for other institutions. Peer reviewers also serve on committees that make up the decision-making bodies of the accreditation process.

Evaluation Process




HLC accreditation assures quality by verifying that an institution (1) meets standards and (2) is engaged in continuous improvement. In addition, all institutions are required to complete an annual filing of the Institutional Update, undergo annual monitoring of financial and non-financial indicators, and adhere to HLC policies and practices on institutional change.

Peer reviewers trained in HLC’s standards evaluate institutions’ demonstration of whether they meet the Criteria for Accreditation and make recommendations to HLC’s decision-making bodies.

Institutional Actions Council (Decision-Making Body)




The Board of Trustees appoints and authorizes members of the Institutional Actions Council (IAC) to conduct reviews and take actions on the majority of accreditation recommendations. IAC members consist of representatives of academic institutions accredited by HLC, as well as members of the public. Detailed information on IAC processes is found in HLC’s policies on decision-making.

Public Information




In the interest of being transparent, HLC is committed to providing information to the public regarding accreditation decisions made regarding individual institutions.

Actions that are taken by HLC regarding an institution’s accreditation status are disclosed to the public. Since July 2013, in all cases of issuing continued accreditation, placing an institution on or resolving a sanction, or withdrawing accreditation, the Action Letter issued to the institution is made available for viewing and the institution’s status in HLC’s online directory is updated. Public Disclosure Notices are also issued in cases of sanction and other HLC actions to provide the public insight into the issues regarding that institution.

Complaints Against HLC-Accredited Institutions




HLC allows faculty, students, and other parties to submit formal complaints regarding an HLC-affiliated institution through its complaints process. As stated in HLC policy, the complaints process is designed to enable HLC to review, in a timely and fair manner, information that suggests potential substantive non-compliance with an institution’s ability to meet the Criteria for Accreditation or other HLC requirements.