Henry - A History of Biola University Since 1908

167 who made the initial visit recommended, however, that in the near future a full scale examination be conducted by an Examining Committee of the Assoc- - ----·--.=...--..:;o - -~---- iation. In the spring of 1957, the Examining Corn..~ittee arrived, chaired by Dr. Cassasa, President of Loyola University, a Jesuit school. The Committee was well balanced being composed of faculty and staff members from several schools in the Southern California area. Its members were from both large and small schools, including religious schools, both Protestant and Catholic. Because of the numerous rumors of discrimination against fundamental schools, there was fear on the part of the Biola Administration. However, Dr. Cas- sasa made it clear that the Committee was not examining Biola's theological views, but its academic status. This Committe?'s examination outlined several deficiencies which must be corrected, and which would mean greater improvements for the School; such as additional volumes in the Library, more course : offerings in the Liberal Arts program, improvement in the faculty's academic training and salaries, increase in the number of courses offered and improvement in the equipment of the Science Department, and some physical education facilities and equipment so that the program would not be depend- ent upon the YMCA and public parks for training . In view of all this, the Exmining Committee recommended that accredit- ation be deferred so that Biola could have time to correct these deffici- encies. Biola decided to wait until the move to the La Mirada campus was completed. Two years later the Committee returned for a full-scale examin- ation, and Biola was granted a three-year membership with full accreditation. This was unusual since the standard was one-year membership for first time accreditation. At the end of the three years, Biola received the maximum five-year membership, and has continued on a five year basis since ·that time. Acceptance into circles of higher education was important to Biola, which in 1947, had received membership in the Accreditation Association of

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