Accreditor Cites Leadership Problems in Keeping Master’s U. on Probation

The regional accreditor that oversees the Master’s University and Seminary is keeping the troubled Christian college on probation. In a letter released this week, the accreditor explained why: Master’s, it says, is still failing to comply with standards that require an independent governing board and “operational integrity.”

The accreditor, the WASC Senior College and University Commission, made its decision after a meeting in February, but only recently made public the decision letter and a report from a November site visit. The college, which is affiliated with an evangelical church in California, was placed on probation last year, after a site-visit report concluded that the “lack of leadership ethics and accountability that emerged was unmatched for members of this review team.”

At the time, the accreditor identified numerous potential conflicts of interest for several board members who were entangled financially, socially, and spiritually with the college’s president, the Rev. John F. MacArthur. Several board members had been employed by the institution or entities controlled by MacArthur. Others had personal ties to MacArthur through Grace Community Church, where he has been head pastor for more than 50 years.

“With many board members being so integrally tied to the president,” the reviewers wrote last year, “the ability to independently evaluate the chief executive officer/president’s performance is hindered.”

The lack of oversight from the board, the reviewers found, led Master’s to questionable hiring and contract decisions, such as employing MacArthur’s son-in-law, Kory Welch, as chief operating officer despite his lack of experience in higher-education administration.

The November site-visit report and the February letter from the accreditor noted that the board had made several policy changes to eliminate the appearance of conflicts of interest. But problems remain.

“The commission observes,” the letter says, “that the board continues to take direction from the president rather than fulfilling its role of overseeing the president and maintaining priorities that are consistent with advancing the institutional mission.”

Last year the reviewers said that the lack of board oversight and the academic insularity at Master’s contributed to “a pervasive climate of fear, intimidation, bullying, and uncertainty.”

The new report notes the college’s efforts to improve, but questions whether the changes are permanent. “The visiting team found that TMUS has made progress in the area of campus climate. However, staff and faculty reported fears that the climate may regress” after the accrediting agency is no longer involved, the report says.

Another group of reviewers will visit Master’s again in the fall to monitor its progress. In the meantime, the accreditor is pressing the institution to follow through with plans to replace MacArthur, who does not meet the accreditor’s requirement to work full time as president.

“The institution made a commitment to transition its chief executive officer from the position of president to chancellor of the seminary within 18 months of the date of the visit,” the agency wrote in its decision letter.

“Yet, at the panel interview,” the letter continues, “the president mentioned that the board has extended that date and had still not taken steps to define the requirements and job description for the institution’s next president.”

Eric Kelderman writes about money and accountability in higher education, including such areas as state policy, accreditation, and legal affairs. You can find him on Twitter @etkeld, or email him at eric.kelderman@chronicle.com.