When prospective students contact Tacoma Bible College, they invariably ask two questions: If the Washington-based school is accredited, and whether it offers classes online.

And in seeking one, the solution to the other became apparent: While attending a conference regarding accreditation, President Ken Dietrich came across a display by Knowledge Elements.  The school had decided to begin developing online courses, but wasn’t sure exactly how.
   
“I had decided to get another degree myself, a master’s, and doing it online was a very easy and positive experience,” he said.  “And we think we can fulfill the mission of the school and extend our student reach by offering online courses.”

The Knowledge Elements system offered Tacoma Bible College several positives.  Dietrich was impressed by the range of courses available, the fact that the software was completely integrated, and that Tacoma had the option of developing and adding its own courses, as well.  He also liked the ability to review the credentials of the online faculty, as well as the fact that any courses approved by Tacoma and offered through the Knowledge Elements Education Network (KEEN) are also branded to look like Tacoma’s.  So in coming days, Tacoma will be trying out a couple of courses, with plans to ramp up to offering a full curriculum of general studies and business classes.

“We’re definitely a niche market,” Dietrich said.  “We’re a Bible college, and our mission is very specific in that area.  Our desire is to provide high-quality education with a Biblical worldview.  But we do want to limit the number of degrees we offer.  We only offer three: education, religion and business.”

The school, which has about 90 students, also relies on an apprenticeship model; students are required to spend time working at a church or partner business in addition to their studies.  With the new online offerings, there’s a plan for incorporating the apprentice model for online students.
 
“We’ve started to develop some strategies around that,” Dietrich said.  “We will probably be asking students to come to the campus each semester for a week of intensives, and then let them take the rest online.  That would let them get to know the college and how we work, and give us a chance to know the students.  Then, if they elect to do more than 50 percent of their courses online, they’re going to have to find a local business and/or church where they can work.  But they will be accountable for tracking their time and what they’re learning.”

Dietrich is looking forward to being a part of the KEEN community.  In his experience, he said, “colleges tend to be isolated, meaning that we all want to do our own thing.  But Knowledge Elements has the potential to serve as a place where colleges and universities can come together in a community.  Also, a lot of Bible colleges like ours have limited resources, and this makes a difference.”