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==Controversy== ==Controversy==
The school found itself immersed in controversy during the later half of the 1990's. In 1996, Baptist Christian University was investigated by a grand jury about course work done by two corrections department employees and the son of a warden.<ref name="lyinggrandjury">{{cite news | url=http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/AD/lib00241,0EB4780794777EF5.html| title=La. Bible college registrar charged with lying to grand jury | publisher=] | date= February 10, 1996 | first= | last= | accessdate =2007-03-07}}</ref> The investigation stemmed from the three using degrees earned from the school for higher pay, but "Louisiana's civil service doesn't recognize the degrees from Baptist Christian College as fulfilling education requirements for state positions."<ref name="lyinggrandjury"/> Marilyn Otstott, the school's registrar and English teacher, was indicted by a grand jury on three counts of perjury.<ref name="lyinggrandjury"/> Otstott was found guilty of perjury when she told a grand jury that she graded course work for three people when she did not.<ref name="guilty">{{cite news | url=http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/AD/lib00241,0EB478225D08D09B.html| title=State jury convicts woman of perjury on college degrees | publisher=] | date= July 12, 1996 | first= | last= | accessdate =2007-03-07}}</ref> As a result of her convictions, the judge gave her probation on the condition that she end her relationship with the school and pay court costs.<ref name="sentenced">{{cite news | url=http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/AD/lib00241,0EB47836EA7D074E.html | title=CRIMINAL COURT | publisher=] | date= November 13, 1996 | first= | last= | accessdate =2007-03-07}}</ref> After she was found guilty, university president Tharpe "denied the college abused Otstott" during the investigation.<ref name="guilty"/> The school found itself immersed in controversy during the later half of the 1990's. In 1996, Baptist Christian College was investigated by a grand jury about course work done by two corrections department employees and the son of a warden.<ref name="lyinggrandjury">{{cite news | url=http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/AD/lib00241,0EB4780794777EF5.html| title=La. Bible college registrar charged with lying to grand jury | publisher=] | date= February 10, 1996 | first= | last= | accessdate =2007-03-07}}</ref> The investigation stemmed from the three using degrees earned from the school for higher pay, but "Louisiana's civil service doesn't recognize the degrees from Baptist Christian College as fulfilling education requirements for state positions."<ref name="lyinggrandjury"/> Marilyn Otstott, the school's registrar and English teacher, was indicted by a grand jury on three counts of perjury.<ref name="lyinggrandjury"/> Otstott was found guilty of perjury when she told a grand jury that she graded course work for three people when she did not.<ref name="guilty">{{cite news | url=http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/AD/lib00241,0EB478225D08D09B.html| title=State jury convicts woman of perjury on college degrees | publisher=] | date= July 12, 1996 | first= | last= | accessdate =2007-03-07}}</ref> As a result of her convictions, the judge gave her probation on the condition that she end her relationship with the school and pay court costs.<ref name="sentenced">{{cite news | url=http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/AD/lib00241,0EB47836EA7D074E.html | title=CRIMINAL COURT | publisher=] | date= November 13, 1996 | first= | last= | accessdate =2007-03-07}}</ref> After she was found guilty, university president Tharpe "denied the college abused Otstott" during the investigation.<ref name="guilty"/>


In 1997, Baptist Christian University also gained attention for offering divinity degrees by mail to people in prison. The university was not part of the investigation and was not cited for any violations <ref>{{cite news | url=http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/AD/lib00241,0EB4787A357F5735.html | title=Seminary helps inmates earn divinity degrees, study Bible | publisher=] | date= October 18, 1997| first= | last= | accessdate =2007-03-07}}</ref> In 1997, the school also gained attention for offering divinity degrees by mail to people in prison. The university was not part of the investigation and was not cited for any violations <ref>{{cite news | url=http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/AD/lib00241,0EB4787A357F5735.html | title=Seminary helps inmates earn divinity degrees, study Bible | publisher=] | date= October 18, 1997| first= | last= | accessdate =2007-03-07}}</ref>


In 1998, Baptist Christian University announced "plans to offer a business administration degree. The university doesn't think ] approval is necessary."<ref name="worries">{{cite news | url=http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/AD/lib00241,0EB478CBB1DB291D.html | title=Unlicensed "colleges" worry state officials: Legislation being prepared to tighten rules for nonprofit schools | publisher=] | date= November 22, 1998 | first= | last= | accessdate =2007-03-07}}</ref> This caused controversy over schools awarding degrees with substandard instruction.<ref name="worries"/> As a result, on December 10, 1998, the Board of Regents unanimously voted to deny the University an operating license for its business education programs, required it to cease admitting students, and cease ].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.regents.state.la.us/Board/Minutes/1998/mi121098.htm| title=Minutes of Board of Regents December 10, 1998 | publisher=] | date=December 10, 1998 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2007-03-13}} Orders LBU to stop admitting students.</ref> Students matriculated at the time were allowed until December 31, 1999 to finish their degrees. Then, reversing its prior decision, on April 22, 1999, the Board voted to accept the recommendation of the Planning, Research and Performance Committee to exempt the university under the religious institution exemption provided for by Act 129 of 1991, allowing it to operate as a religious institution.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.regents.state.la.us/Board/Minutes/1999/mi042299.htm| title=Minutes of Board of Regents April 22, 1999 | publisher=] | date=April 22, 1999 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2007-03-13}}</ref> In 1998, LBU announced "plans to offer a business administration degree. The university doesn't think ] approval is necessary."<ref name="worries">{{cite news | url=http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/AD/lib00241,0EB478CBB1DB291D.html | title=Unlicensed "colleges" worry state officials: Legislation being prepared to tighten rules for nonprofit schools | publisher=] | date= November 22, 1998 | first= | last= | accessdate =2007-03-07}}</ref> This caused controversy over schools awarding degrees with substandard instruction.<ref name="worries"/> As a result, on December 10, 1998, the Board of Regents unanimously voted to deny the University an operating license for its business education programs, required it to cease admitting students, and cease ].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.regents.state.la.us/Board/Minutes/1998/mi121098.htm| title=Minutes of Board of Regents December 10, 1998 | publisher=] | date=December 10, 1998 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2007-03-13}} Orders LBU to stop admitting students.</ref> Students matriculated at the time were allowed until December 31, 1999 to finish their degrees. Then, reversing its prior decision, on April 22, 1999, the Board voted to accept the recommendation of the Planning, Research and Performance Committee to exempt the university under the religious institution exemption provided for by Act 129 of 1991, allowing it to operate as a religious institution.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.regents.state.la.us/Board/Minutes/1999/mi042299.htm| title=Minutes of Board of Regents April 22, 1999 | publisher=] | date=April 22, 1999 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2007-03-13}}</ref>


==Alumni == ==Alumni ==

Revision as of 01:12, 19 March 2014

Louisiana Baptist University
LBU Emblem
TypePrivate / religious exempt
Established1973
AffiliationBaptist Bible Fellowship International
PresidentNeal Weaver
Academic staff44
Students650 (in 2010)
LocationShreveport, Louisiana, USA
Websitehttp://www.lbu.edu/
Louisiana Baptist University is located off Interstate 20 in Shreveport.

Louisiana Baptist University (LBU, originally called Baptist Christian University) is an unaccredited theologically conservative Christian university, founded in 1973, located at 6301 Westport Avenue in Shreveport, Louisiana.

LBU has both an on-campus program and a distance education program which primarily teaches subjects pertaining to the Bible and Baptist theology. Classes are grouped in five areas: School of Biblical Studies, School of Communications (Music, Creative writing), School of Counseling, School of Christian Education, and Theological Seminary. Distance education courses are offered by mail and via web-based delivery.

History

In 1973, Baptist Christian University was founded by Jimmy G. Tharpe (1930-2008) as part of the Baptist Tabernacle, offering distance education for full-time ministers to complete degrees without leaving their pastorates. In February 1993, the trustees restructured the school's charter and changed the name to Louisiana Baptist University. LBU states that on February 1, 1994 it became the first non-traditional post-secondary institution in the state of Louisiana to receive full licensure by the Louisiana Board of Regents.

Kathleen Blanco, then governor of Louisiana, declared the month of April 2005 as "Louisiana Baptist University Month".

In it's beginning, LBU was housed in the Centrum Building on Hollywood Avenue. It later relocated to a 12,500-square-foot (1,160 m) facility off Interstate 20 at 6301 Westport Avenue in the center of West Shreveport, where the campus remains today.

In May 2013, the university expanded their campus with the completion of the Neal Weaver Conference Center. The center is equipped with the latest audio/video equipment which enables the university to host webinars in addition to their conferences.

Accreditation

LBU is not accredited by any accreditation organization recognized by the US Department of Education or Council on Higher Education Accreditation. LBU's website states the university "has never sought government accreditation due to the nature of the educational services it provides. The mission of the school is and always has been to train people for ministry. Because of our strong belief in the separation of powers, we have never invited government oversight of our programs." Because the university only grants non-secular degrees for use in various areas of ministry, it operates under religious-exempt status in Louisiana.

LBU is an approved school of the Baptist Bible Fellowship International, a missionary organization. The university is also a member school of the Association of Christian Schools International. LBU holds "affiliate" status with The Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE). According to ABHE, "ABHE Affiliate status is available to credible institutions of biblical higher education seeking to benefit from ready access to ABHE services and networking but presently lacking either readiness or inclination to seek ABHE accreditation. An affiliate institution must not portray itself, verbally or in print, as an accredited member of ABHE."

Academics and staff

The school employs some fifty people as faculty and staff. A majority of the faculty list degrees from LBU, including its previous name, Baptist Christian University, which the institution claims reflects the school's "strong stance on inspiration of the scriptures, doctrinal purity and pre-millennialism."

LBU accepts a limited amount of three types of non-traditional credit, which it calls: experiential learning credits, military experience credits, and credit by examination. The university also allows students to transfer credits from other universities as well as approved Christian educational organizations. For example, at LBU alumnus Chuck Missler's Koinoina Institute, students can earn up to half of the credit requirements toward a graduate degree at Louisiana Baptist University.

The current president of LBU is Neal Weaver, who holds a B.A., M.Th. and Th.D. degrees from Eastern Baptist Institute, as well as a D.Min. degree from Baptist Christian University.

Controversy

The school found itself immersed in controversy during the later half of the 1990's. In 1996, Baptist Christian College was investigated by a grand jury about course work done by two corrections department employees and the son of a warden. The investigation stemmed from the three using degrees earned from the school for higher pay, but "Louisiana's civil service doesn't recognize the degrees from Baptist Christian College as fulfilling education requirements for state positions." Marilyn Otstott, the school's registrar and English teacher, was indicted by a grand jury on three counts of perjury. Otstott was found guilty of perjury when she told a grand jury that she graded course work for three people when she did not. As a result of her convictions, the judge gave her probation on the condition that she end her relationship with the school and pay court costs. After she was found guilty, university president Tharpe "denied the college abused Otstott" during the investigation.

In 1997, the school also gained attention for offering divinity degrees by mail to people in prison. The university was not part of the investigation and was not cited for any violations

In 1998, LBU announced "plans to offer a business administration degree. The university doesn't think Regents approval is necessary." This caused controversy over schools awarding degrees with substandard instruction. As a result, on December 10, 1998, the Board of Regents unanimously voted to deny the University an operating license for its business education programs, required it to cease admitting students, and cease advertising. Students matriculated at the time were allowed until December 31, 1999 to finish their degrees. Then, reversing its prior decision, on April 22, 1999, the Board voted to accept the recommendation of the Planning, Research and Performance Committee to exempt the university under the religious institution exemption provided for by Act 129 of 1991, allowing it to operate as a religious institution.

Alumni

Seminary

University

See also

References

  1. ^ "Louisiana Baptist University". Association for Biblical Higher Education. 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-11. Cite error: The named reference "ABHE2010" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. "Welcome to LBU!". Louisiana Baptist University (Archived). April 1999. Retrieved 2007-03-07.
  3. United States of America, State of Louisiana, Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Proclamation Signed March 29, 2005.
  4. Tharpe, Mr. Baptist, pp. 135-137
  5. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151530148444492.1073741826.264062789491&type=3 LBU Official Facebook Page
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference macad was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. http://lbu.edu/FAQ.html LBU Frequently Asked Questions
  8. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/rpt/2007-R-0023.htm Pinhel, EXEMPTIONS FROM THE HIGHER EDUCATION LICENSING PROCESS FOR RELIGIOUS COLLEGES
  9. http://lbu.edu/quick%20facts.html
  10. http://lbu.edu/quick%20facts.html
  11. "Directory". Association for Biblical Higher Education. 2011. Retrieved 2010-04-11.
  12. http://lbu.edu/staff.html LBU Staff
  13. http://lbu.edu/staff.html LBU Staff
  14. Koinonia Institute degrees
  15. http://lbu.edu/staff.html LBU Staff Page
  16. ^ "La. Bible college registrar charged with lying to grand jury". The Advocate. February 10, 1996. Retrieved 2007-03-07.
  17. ^ "State jury convicts woman of perjury on college degrees". The Advocate. July 12, 1996. Retrieved 2007-03-07.
  18. "CRIMINAL COURT". The Advocate. November 13, 1996. Retrieved 2007-03-07.
  19. "Seminary helps inmates earn divinity degrees, study Bible". The Advocate. October 18, 1997. Retrieved 2007-03-07.
  20. ^ "Unlicensed "colleges" worry state officials: Legislation being prepared to tighten rules for nonprofit schools". The Advocate. November 22, 1998. Retrieved 2007-03-07.
  21. "Minutes of Board of Regents December 10, 1998". Louisiana Board of Regents. December 10, 1998. Retrieved 2007-03-13. Orders LBU to stop admitting students.
  22. "Minutes of Board of Regents April 22, 1999". Louisiana Board of Regents. April 22, 1999. Retrieved 2007-03-13.
  23. Tobia, P.J. "Reading, Writing and Jesus: What nearby schools don’t know about the Bible class they soon may be teaching", Nashville Scene, October 19, 2006. Accessed December 19, 2007. "While there are a few reputable legal and theological minds from solid universities associated with the group, they are far outnumbered by the likes of Carl Baugh, who holds a Ph.D. in theology from Louisiana Baptist University."
  24. Perkes, Kim Sue Lia. "Fort Worth school sues to call itself "seminary'", Austin American-Statesman, April 15, 1999. "Tyndale has about 350 seminary students, about two-thirds of them taking courses by correspondence, said Mal Couch, the school's president and founder. He said he holds five degrees, including a doctorate of theology from Louisiana Baptist Seminary..."
  25. Murray, Shailagh. "Filibuster Fray Lifts Profile of Minister: Scarborough Has Network and Allies", The Washington Post, May 8, 2005. Accessed December 19, 2007. "After receiving a master's of divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth and a doctorate in ministry from Louisiana Baptist Theological Seminary, Scarborough hit the national revival and crusade circuit for 14 years."
  26. Rick Scarborough Vision America
  27. Wilson, Jennifer. "Is Noah's Ark on mount in Iran? Man scours the world looking for religious artifacts", Deseret Morning News, August 11, 2006. Accessed December 19, 2007. "Bob Cornuke doesn't have a degree in archaeology; he holds a doctorate in Bible and theology from Louisiana Baptist University."
  28. Arellano. "Dr. Jihad", OC Weekly, March 2, 2006. Accessed December 19, 2007. "Morey also claims to have received a doctorate from Louisiana Baptist University. Two problems: LBU is unaccredited by the United States government, which means no serious academy would recognize it. Then there’s this: LBU doesn’t offer a Ph.D. in Islamic studies."

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