• latifint Decision 4:4462 

MATTER OF COLLEGE OF THE SCRIFFCRES 

Petition for Approval of School 

CIN 214F.119 

Decided by Regional Commissioner April 2R, 1965 

Petitioning college, established for the training and education of ministers for 

Churches of Christ, is denied approval for attendance by nontuundgraut students since petitioner has failed to submit, in compliance with the requirement of 8 CFA 214.3(b), satisfactory certification by the appropriate official 

authorized to do so that the school is licensed; approved, or accredited, and 

the U.S. Office of Education. after consultation, recommended denial of the 

petition. 

Discussion: The petition was denied by the District Director at 

Cleveland, Ohio, on February 2, 1965. It is now considered on 

appeal. 

The College of the'Scriptures was incorporated on 1945, as 

a nonprofit organization with stated purposes to establish and,naintain an academy, college and graduate seminary tor the trainihg and 

education of ministers for Churches of Christ and to conduct correspondence courses and classroom study .to educate persons as 

ministersfor. Churches of Christ. The college has enjoyed a measure of success and now has three buildings. One is a chapel building 

which includes classrooms. Another is a combination classroom and 

dormitory building. The third building is a house whin},. is some 

distance from the campus and is used as a dormitory. 

The petitioner states that a petition was submitted in December 

1952 for approval of the college as a. school for foreign students. No 

record of approval of the college at that time is found and since the 

college was not included in a consolidated list of approved schools of 

April 30, 1954, it is concluded that the college has not previously 

been approved. 

Section 101(a) (15) (F) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 

as amended, provides that in considering the approval of. schools 

there be donsultation by this Service with the Office bf Education of 

the United States. In this case the file was submitted to that office 

154 
Interim Decision #1462 

and their views expressed in a letter dated December 9, 1964, are as 

follows: - _ 

On the basis of the material submitted with the Petition for Approval of 

School for Nonimmigrant Students, we do not find the College or the scriptures .• to qualify as "an established educational institution or other recognized place 

of study" at the level at which it purports to offer programs and degrees. 

There is considerable question about its certification. by the Eeptuctr Department of Adult Education, current approval for the training of veterans, and 

acceptance of credits by accredited institutions. There is no evidence that its 

high school department prepares students for entering accredited institutions of 

higher education. There are conflicting reports about the size of faculty and 

considerable doubt as to faculty quolifleotinno for the level OX VCOATAIM advertised. The Office of Education recommends that the Attorney General deny the 

Petition for Approval of School for Nonimmigrant Students submitted by the 

College of the Scriptures. 

A' 1964 publication submitted with the petition shows tho College 

of the. Scriptures as hiving 13 undergraduates and -2 graduate students Inking 8 or more semester hours; also 10 students are shown 

RS taking less than 8 semester hours, making a total of 25 students. 

The faculty is shown as four full-time and six part-time members. 

The college awards the associate arts degree, bachelor of sacred arts 

(ministerial), bachelor of sacred literature," bachelor of theology, a 

two-year missionary certificate, and a high school diploma. 

The petition was filed to enable the petitioning college to enroll 

eight students from Jamaica. Such of these students as have a deficiency in pre-college level stagy would be provided with remedial 

high. school subjects. Those taking high school subjects would be 19 

years of age or older. 

It is stated in 8 OFR 214.3 (b) that, except for public, private, and 

paroehial•elementaiy and secondary schools, a "petitioning school 

shall submit a certification by the appropriate licensing, approving 

or accrediting official who shall certify that he is authorized to do 

so to the effect that it is licensed, approved, or accredited. In lieu of 

such certification, a school which is recognized by a state• approving 

agency as an 'educational institution' for study for veterans under 

the provisions of P.L. 550 (82nd COngress) may submit a statement 

of recognition signed by the appropriate official of the state approving agency who shall certify that he is authorized to do so. A 

charter shall not be considered a licen.se,...approval or accreditation." 

The petitioner has been unable to satisfactorily comply with this 

requirement. The petitioner concedes that the program offered is 

not on a level with recognized liberal arts colleges, junior colleges or 

universities, but argues that the credits are transferable to other, 

theological institutions which have been approved by this Service 

for foreign students. 

155 
interim Decision #1462 

The evidence submitted in support of the petition has been carefully considered. However, on the basis of the unfavorable recommendation by the Office of Education, as well as the fact that the 

petitioner has failed to submit the documentation required. by S ORR 

.214.3(b), it is concluded that the decision of the District Director 

must be affirmed. 

'ORDER: The decision of the District Director of Cleveland, Ohio • 

is affirmed, and the appeal of the appellant is hereby dismissed. 

156