Subject: Creationist credentials Date: Mon, 22 Jul 91 20:01:27 EDT The source of theinform

Message-Id: <9107230001.AA28148@sun4.jhuapl.edu>
From: jwm@sun4.jhuapl.edu (James W. Meritt)
Subject: Creationist credentials
Date: Mon, 22 Jul 91 20:01:27 EDT



 The source of theinformation  on colleges and universities is from
"Bear's Guide to Earning Non-Traditional College Degrees," 10th Ed. Where
used below, the word "Accreditation" refers to accreditation by one of the
recognized Regional Accrediting Agencies, OR by the (legitimate) American
Association of Bible Colleges. California has a three tier system: At the
low end are "Authorized" schools. More highly scrutinized are "Approved"
schools. "Accredited" schools are accredited by the regional Accrediting
Agency.

       Dr.  Carl Baugh, a fundamentalist Missouri Baptist minister with  no
    scientific background, claims to  be an archaeologist.  He  also claims
    to have  a Ph.D.   from the  California Graduate  School of Theology in
    Glendale.  When a local  skeptic checked with the  primary organization
    responsible for accreditation (The  Western Association of Schools  and
    Colleges), he  was informed  that this  "graduate school"  has not been
    accredited.  Reverend  Baugh claims  to have  found "human"  footprints
    that measure nearly forty inches from heel to toe. 
California Graduate School of Theology is "Approved" by the state of
California (A step up from "Authorized.") but is not accredited. All degrees
are in theology. Credit is given for "experiential learning."

       Dr.  Richard Bliss, a member of the ICR staff, has claimed to have a
    D.Ed.  from the University of Sarasota located in Florida.  In the 1984
    spring issue of "Scientific  Integrity", William V.  Mayer  pointed out
    that  this  university  has  been  characterized  by  the "Philadelphia
    Inquirer" as a diploma mill  in a Florida motel (see  Lovejoy's College
    Catalog).  Bliss has  accused evolutionary scientists  of "intellectual
    dishonesty".  He also claims to be "a recognized expert in the field of
    science education" and is co-author of a "two-model" book that is being
    pushed for use in the public school system. 
Bear lists the "University of Sarasota" as a "short residency" (total 
residency may be as short as six weeks) school. The school is the equivalent
of California "Approved," but is not accredited.

       Dr.  Clifford Burdick of the CSRC (Creation Science Research Center)
    is a "flood" geologist who has  spent forty years trying to prove  that
    giant humans once roamed the earth and even mingled with the dinosaurs.
    Burdick  has  displayed a  copy of  his Ph.D.   from the  University of
    Physical Sciences (Phoenix, Arizona) in the Glen Rose Creation Evidence
    Museum.  However, the State of Arizona Board of Regents, the University
    of  Arizona  Department of  Geology, and  the  Arizona State  Bureau of
    Geology and Mineral Technology  have never heard of  this "university."
Bear hasn't heard of this school either. There appears to be a "University of
Psychic Sciences," in National City, California.

       Dr.  Kelly Segraves,  director of the  CSRC, listed himself  as M.A.
    and D.Sc.  on  the 1975 CSRC  letterhead.  After having  it called into
    question, Segraves dropped the D.Sc.  in 1981 and now lists "D.R.E." in
    its  place.   Segraves has  claimed that  his  D.Sc.  is  honorary from
    Christian University,  yet a  computer search  indicated that  the only
    university with that name is  located in Jakarta, Indonesia.  The  next
    closest match is  a Bible College  called Indiana Christian  University
    (see below).  Segraves claims to  have received his M.A.  from  Sequoia
    University in 1972 but Bette Chambers discovered that there is no  such
    place.  The  closest name  match is  a Sequoia  College in  California,
    which only offers two year associate  degrees and has no record of  any
    student named  Kelly Segraves.   Note that  "D.R.E." is  a doctorate of
    religious education and does not qualify as a scientific degree.  
There are or were several "National Christian University," in Richardson,
(Texas), Dallas,  and apparently Oklahoma City and/or Missouri. Bear can
offer no other information, except that "National Christian" appears on a
European list of degree mills. There is a "Christian International
University" in Phoenix, Arizona (which was established in Texas in 1967, and
moved to Arizona in 1977 when "the Lord provided a central home"). The only
staff member listed as having a Doctorate is the President, whose degree is
from...National Christian University. CIU is the the equivalent of California
"Authorized," but not Accredited.

Sequoia University did exist, in California and Oklahoma, but a judge in Los
Angeles, in 1984, issued a permanent injunction to cease operations "until it
complies with the state education laws." The "university" offered degrees in
osteopathic medicine, religious studies, hydrotherapy, and physical sciences.


       Dr.  Harold S.  Slusher of the ICR claims to have an honorary  D.Sc.
    from Indiana Christian  University and a  Ph.D.  from Columbia  Pacific
    University.   Robert  J.  Schadewald  recently discovered  that Indiana
    Christian University is  a Bible College  with only a  1/2 man graduate
    science department, and  Columbia Pacific University  is nonaccredited.
"Indiana Christian University" is unknown to Bear. Columbia Pacific University,
in San Rafael, California, is California "Approved," but not Accredited.
Of listed faculty, 23% have their own Doctorate from ... Columbia Pacific
University.