NationsUniversity, also known as Nations University or NationsU, is a private Christian university in

New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

distance education Distance education, also known as distance learning, is the education of students who may not always be physically present at a school, or where the learner and the teacher are separated in both time and distance. Traditionally, this usually in ...

(as well as in small learning pods and different locales)and focuses on "the development of faith and the training of Christian leaders around the world." While NationsUniversity's founding faculty and many of the staff are affiliated with the Churches of Christ, NationsUniversity itself is a nondenominational online Christian university, which offers certificates, bachelor's in religious studies, and a

master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

in theological studies, and a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree. The school offers all of its programs through the internet and correspondence but does provide some degree of remote student services including having a full-time chaplain on staff. The school has become a popular school for low-cost education for Church of Christ ministers in Kenya.

History

NationsU was incorporated in 1996 by Richard Ady, Mac Lynn, and Darrell Frazier. Ady and Lynn had been college classmates. Ady's career had been in church work and Lynn had worked in

higher education Higher education is tertiary education leading to award of an academic degree. Higher education, also called post-secondary education, third-level or tertiary education, is an optional final stage of formal learning that occurs after comple ...

as a teacher and administrator. Ady had previously founded the World English Institute.History of Nations University
Nations University website Gathering volunteers who would travel around the globe, conducting courses and seminars in religious studies, was the plan. As time progressed, around two hundred volunteers were enlisted to provide assistance. As the group's activity strengthened, the demand for religious degree programs strengthened. Therefore, the organization became officially incorporated in Louisiana on July 19, 1996, as NationsUniversity. The school celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2020 with an online event during the COVID19 pandemic.

Academics

NationsU offers three different degree programs and three certificate programs. These programs include: * Certificate of Biblical Studies * Certificate in Christian Ministry * Graduate Certificate in Biblical Studies· * Bachelor of Religious Studies * Master of Theological Studies * Master of Divinity In 2011 the student announced that it has served 5,000 student to date with its programs. As of December 1, 2019, active enrollment stood at 1482 students in 100 countries and 40 states within the U.S. Of the total enrollment, 328 were formally admitted into the Certificate in Biblical Studies, 228 to the Bachelor of Religious Studies, 80 to the Master of Theological Studies, and 47 to the Master of Divinity. The remainder were as yet not formally admitted to a specific program of study and as of December 31, 2018, 1,369 degrees have been awarded since the founding in 1996.

Accreditation and Affliations

The institution is accredited by The

Distance Education Accrediting Commission The Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), formerly the National Home Study Council and then as the Distance Education and Training Council, is a non-profit national educational accreditation agency in the United States specializing in t ...

(DEAC). Since 2019, the institution has been a member of the

Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) is an American financial standards association representing Evangelical Christian organizations and churches, which qualify for tax-exempt, nonprofit status and receive tax-deductible c ...

."NationsUniversity accredited by national fianancial accountability organization" ''RNS Religion News Service'' (Sept. 12, 2019)
(accessed Mar 12, 2023)

References

External links

* {{authority control Distance education institutions based in the United States Universities and colleges established in 1996 Universities and colleges affiliated with the Churches of Christ 1996 establishments in Louisiana Universities and colleges in New Orleans Private universities and colleges in Louisiana Distance Education Accreditation Commission