Institutional Effectiveness

Summit Christian College

Mission

Summit Christian College, an institution of higher learning, educates leaders for Christian service.

Purpose Statement

Summit Christian College works in collaboration with the church to provide a Biblical higher education to faithful men and women equipping them to serve effectively in various ministries in the church, on the mission field, and in para-church organizations.

Degrees and Certificates

To accomplish our mission and fulfill our purpose, Summit Christian College offers the following degrees and certificates.

Bachelor of Arts: Major in Biblical Studies: A degree designed to prepare students for entry-level ministry positions, missions, or entry into a graduate school. The degree includes 12 hours of Biblical languages. This is a 128-credit hour degree that can be completed in 4 years.

Bachelor of Science: Major in Biblical Studies: A degree designed to prepare students for entry-level ministry positions, missions, or entry into a graduate school. Students completing this degree may earn a degree with an emphasis on Family Education in the Church, Youth Education in the Church, Preaching and Teaching, Church Leadership, or Missions. The 128-credit-hour degree that can be completed in four years.

Bachelor of Science: Major in Christian Studies: A degree designed for students who have already received a BA/BS, AA, or have earned 60 transferable credit hours in the appropriate areas and desire a career or degree change so they may enter into ministry, missions, or Christian education. Students completing this degree may earn a degree emphasis in Family Education in the Church, Youth Education in the Church, Preaching and Teaching, Church Leadership, or Missions. Students with 60 transferable credit hours may earn this degree by completing 68 additional hours at SCC.

Associate of Arts in Biblical Studies: A degree designed for students who desire to complete a major in a field of study not available at Summit Christian College or serve in a local church program or a mission support role. Students can take many of their general education courses in a Christian environment, and receive a solid Biblical foundation. This is a 62 credit hour degree that can be completed in 2 years.

Associate of Arts in Christian Studies: A degree designed for students who would like to complete an associate degree at SCC and an associate degree at a community college or have completed an associate degree at another institution and are seeking an associate degree from a Christian college. This is a 62-credit hour degree that allows students to transfer in general education courses and some electives from other institutions of higher learning and acquire Biblical knowledge and develop a Christian Worldview through SCC courses.

Certificate in Christian Foundations: A course of study designed to give students who will be living, working, or studying in a secular environment the necessary knowledge and skills to stand firm in, and share, the Christian faith.

Institutional Effectiveness

Summit Christian College uses the following information as to its primary means for measuring its effectiveness.

Retention Rates
Christian Service Rates
Graduation and Employment Rates
Graduating Senior Surveys
ABHE Bible Exams (exit exams for graduating seniors)
Student Learning Assessment

Retention and Graduation Rates

Summit Christian College’s courses and programs are designed for ministry-minded students who desire to effectively serve the body of Christ in vocational and volunteer ministries. Students desiring to serve vocationally, normally enroll in one of the College’s bachelor's degrees. However, many students who desire to serve as volunteers enroll in an associate degree, a certificate, or simply take select courses that fulfill their educational goals.
To get an accurate assessment of the school’s retention rates the College uses two primary sources of data for retention measurements.

First, Graduation Rates as reported in IPEDS for first-time, full-time, bachelor’s degree-seeking students. This data set is used in benchmarking with other institutions. Second, the College has created its own data report that calculates retention for new students including those that transfer in and those seeking degrees or certificates less than a bachelor’s degree. This data reports the retention of students who reflect the college’s Institutional goal of seeking out ministry-minded students. Both data sets are assessed annually as part of the Recruitment and Retention’s annual Institutional Assessment meeting in September.

Graduation Rates

New Student Retention Rate

Overall Retention Rate

Christian Service Rates

Employment Rates

Graduation Rates are tracked and reported in IPEDS as part of the Student Right to Know Graduation Rates. Placement Rates are tracked via the Registrar’s office at six months post-graduation and five years post-graduation. Placement Rates are tracked for Bachelor’s degrees and Associate’s degrees. Data is collected through surveys and personal contact with prior graduates. Data is then made available on the college’s website.

Bachelors within 6 months of graduation

Bachelors within 5 years of graduation

Associates within 6 months of graduation

Associates within 5 years of graduation

Graduating Senior Surveys

Bible Exams

Program Objectives

In alignment with its mission, Summit Christian College has identified four overarching program objectives that define the expected student learning outcomes for its four-year bachelor’s degree programs:

Enhanced Communication Skills: Develop effective research, writing, and communication skills based on critical thought.
Spiritual and Professional Growth: Cultivate spiritual formation and Christian leadership qualities.
Comprehensive Biblical Competence: Attain a well-rounded grasp of Biblical knowledge and interpretive skills.
Biblical Interdisciplinary Studies: Examine principles and theories from interdisciplinary studies from a Biblical worldview.

Each program objective is further defined by a set of proficiencies that serve as measurable indicators of student achievement. Collectively, these objectives and proficiencies delineate the essential knowledge, skills, and dispositions students are expected to develop in preparation for effective Christian service and leadership.

[View the complete list of program objectives and proficiencies.]

Students completing a bachelor’s degree are expected to demonstrate achievement of all program objectives and related proficiencies. Students completing an associate degree or certificate program are expected to demonstrate competency in a proportionate subset of these objectives.

[View bachelor degree objectives and proficiencies.]

[View associate degree objectives and proficiencies.]
[View certificate objectives and proficiencies.]

To evaluate the extent to which students achieve these outcomes, Summit Christian College employs both direct and indirect assessment measures within its institutional effectiveness process:

Direct Assessment: Faculty assess student performance relative to the program objectives and proficiencies through course-embedded assignments such as essays, exegetical and research papers, examinations, daily coursework, and mentored ministry activities.
Indirect Assessment: Complementary data are collected through student, faculty, and mentor surveys to gauge perceived levels of achievement and program effectiveness.

Faculty aim for an average student achievement rate of 85% or higher, reflecting the College’s commitment to academic rigor, spiritual formation, and continuous improvement in fulfilling its Christ-centered mission.