Cincinnati Christian University will shut down at the end of the fall semester and become an extension site of another university, it announced October 28.
According to a statement on the school’s website, it will assist Central Christian College of the Bible (CCCB), headquartered in Moberly, Missouri in opening an extension site in Cincinnati for current and future ministry students.
A letter addressed to students was published at the same time, recommending transfer options. It states that the university is working with HLC, the Ohio Department of Higher Education and “other accreditors” to make the most of transfer credits from CCU to other similarly sized and minded universities.
Less than half of the students are in theology or religious studies and thus may not benefit directly from the ministry partnership. And while CCU recommended 11 universities where students can transfer for credit, many weren’t expecting to do so this school year. It was implied to them that they would have at least another year.
CCU also did not give a reason for the sudden sooner closure date, although an August warning from the Higher Learning Commission threatened the school’s accreditation based on concerns about, among other things, financial stability and low graduation rates.
The Letter to Students does offer information concerning the “closed school loan discharge process” and includes a link to set students up with more information about paying off their loans.
The letter from the Higher Learning Commission cites concerns that CCU does not meet many of the criteria for accreditation, including a shift in mission, the President’s role as Chief Restructuring Officer for Central Bank (the university’s loan provider) and a member of the Board of Trustees, insufficient faculty to student ratio, infrequent review of data for program improvement, and declining retention rates.
Loss of accreditation could mean CCU’s students would not meet specifications necessary for their fields upon graduating as well as a retraction of their federal financial aid. CCU chose to close its doors because this choice was “the best possible stewardship of the resources and opportunities God has provided.”
– – –
Allegra Thatcher is a reporter at The Ohio Star.
