At its April 5 session, the Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA) voted on two policy items to be reflected in the AAA Handbook. These items are as follows:
- Addition of evidences in Areas 5 and 9:
- To add the following evidence under CFR 9.1 (“Student services clearly promote and support Adventist identity and the core values of the institution”):
- Examples of student services policies and programs that provide care and accountability for students not living in harmony with biblical standards of sexuality, as upheld by the Seventh-day Adventist Church
- To add the following evidence under CFR 9.7 (“mission-focused services to address the unique needs of student groups”):
- A description of the care and counseling services delivered in a manner and context that is loving toward students who are not living in harmony with biblical standards of sexuality established since Creation (in Gen. 1-2) as affirmed by the Seventh-day Adventist Church
- To add the following evidence under CFR 5.2
- Evidence that professional programs include content and clinical experiences so that students are able to provide competent and compassionate care for all
- To add the following evidence under CFR 9.1 (“Student services clearly promote and support Adventist identity and the core values of the institution”):
- New CFR on Diversity with corresponding evidences
- The administration, in the context of Rev. 14:6, ensures that policies and practices of the institution effectively support and foster inclusion of different races, languages, ethnicities, tribes, and caste
- Sample policies and practices that exemplify respect for differences in ethnic background, that encourage and support cross-cultural interaction and understanding, and that advance an equitable community
- Examples of curricular and co-curricular mentoring and modeling of biblical ethics and civil discourse about justice, race, and ethnicity
- Results of annual surveys on sense of belonging and utilization of findings to guide institutional initiatives
- Results from items regarding diversity in exit interviews and surveys
- Retention rates disaggregated by ethnicity
- The administration, in the context of Rev. 14:6, ensures that policies and practices of the institution effectively support and foster inclusion of different races, languages, ethnicities, tribes, and caste
The AAA posts these changes for two months to receive public comment. If you should have a comment, kindly send it by June 26, 2023 to Rachel Kim at [email protected].