Terms & Conditions

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern access to and use of the website, online forms, portals, downloadable materials, communications, and other digital services made available by the Accreditation Board
for Bible Colleges & Universities ("ABBCU,"; ";we," "us," or "our"). By accessing or using these services, youag ree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the services. If you use the services on behalf of a school,
college, university, ministry, church, business, or other organization, you represent that you are authorized to accept these Terms for that organization. A separate written accreditation agreement, application, policy, standard, or institutional code may impose additional requirements. If a conflict exists, the more specific written document controls for the subject it addresses.

1. About ABBCU
ABBCU is a faith-based accreditation organization serving qualifying Bible colleges, universities, seminaries, ministry-training programs, and related Christian institutions. Information presented through the services describes ABBCU standards, processes, programs, and resources. ABBCU may revise its standards, forms, procedures, schedules, and service offerings when reasonably necessary to maintain institutional integrity and sound administration.

2. Eligibility and Authorized Use
You may use the services only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. You must be legally capable of entering into a binding agreement. Applications and institutional services are intended for authorized representatives of eligible organizations. You are responsible for confirming that your organization satisfies the current eligibility standards before submitting an application or fee.

3. Accounts, Access Codes, and Security
Some services may require an account, private institution code, password, or other credential. You agree to provide accurate registration information, protect all credentials from unauthorized use, and promptly notify ABBCU of suspected loss, misuse, or compromise. You are responsible for activity conducted through
credentials assigned to you or your organization, except to the extent prohibited by applicable law.

4. Applications and Institutional Submissions
All applications, self-assessments, reports, supporting documents, representations, and updates submitted toABBCU must be complete, current, and accurate. You agree not to omit material information or submit documents that are false, misleading, altered without authorization, or owned by another person without permission. ABBCU may request clarification, additional documentation, interviews, or verification from appropriate sources. Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance, accreditation, a particular
status, completion date, or favorable decision. Review periods are estimates and may change because of application completeness, verification needs, evaluator availability, institutional response time, or other circumstances.

5. Fees, Payments, and Refunds

Current fees are stated in the applicable application, invoice, program description, or fee schedule. You authorize ABBCU and its payment providers to process charges you approve. Unless a written ABBCU policy
or agreement states otherwise, application, review, evaluation, expedited-service, training, and administrative fees are nonrefundable after the applicable work or processing has begun. Failure to pay amounts when due may
delay or suspend service. You are responsible for any taxes, bank charges, currency-conversion charges, or third-party processing costs associated with your payment, except where applicable law requires otherwise.
Contact ABBCU promptly if you believe a charge is incorrect.

6. Accreditation Decisions, Status, and Recognition
ABBCU evaluates institutions under its published standards and procedures. Accreditation status may be conditional, provisional, full, probationary, denied, suspended, revoked, or otherwise limited as permitted by applicable ABBCU policies. An institution must continue to satisfy all standards, reporting duties, renewal requirements, and financial obligations during the period of its status. ABBCU accreditation does not guarantee that credits, degrees, certificates, coursework, employment qualifications, professional licenses, financial aid
eligibility, immigration benefits, or other credentials will be accepted by another institution, employer, governmental agency, licensing board, professional association, accreditor, or jurisdiction. Each receiving organization makes its own decisions. Institutions and students are responsible for confirming acceptance before relying on ABBCU status for a particular purpose. Only institutions with current written authorization may represent themselves as accredited by ABBCU or display an ABBCU certificate, seal, logo, or accreditation statement. Such use must accurately state the institution, program, scope, level, and effective dates approved by ABBCU and must stop immediately if the authorization expires, is suspended, or is withdrawn. Failure to do so, may become a legal issue. If this happens you will be contacted by our legal counsel.

7. Website Information and No Professional Advice
ABBCU seeks to keep information accurate and useful, but website content is provided for general informational and administrative purposes. It is not legal, tax, financial, licensing, regulatory, or professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional or the appropriate authority concerning your specific
circumstances. Information on the website does not replace the controlling version of an ABBCU standard, decision letter, signed agreement, or official policy.
 

8. Intellectual Property
The services and their content—including text, standards, forms, graphics, logos, seals, designs, videos, course materials, compilations, and other works—are owned by or licensed to ABBCU and are protected by applicable
intellectual-property laws. Subject to these Terms, ABBCU grants you a limited, revocable, nonexclusive, nontransferable license to access and use the services for legitimate personal or institutional purposes connected
with ABBCU. You may not copy, republish, sell, sublicense, modify, remove ownership notices from, create misleading derivatives of, or commercially exploit ABBCU content without prior written permission, except as
allowed by law. No right to use an ABBCU name, trademark, seal, accreditation mark, or logo is granted by general website access.

9. Your Materials and Limited Review License
You retain ownership of materials you submit to ABBCU. You grant ABBCU a limited, nonexclusive license to receive, store, copy, review, verify, share with authorized evaluators or service providers, and otherwise use those materials as reasonably necessary to administer applications, evaluations, accreditation, appeals, training, compliance, records, and related services. You represent that you have the rights and permissions needed to submit the materials and grant this license. ABBCU will handle institutional materials in accordance with
applicable policies and privacy notices. However, you should not submit passwords, payment-card details outside an approved payment process, or sensitive information that ABBCU has not requested. ABBCU will
never call and request any type of financial information.

10. Prohibited Conduct
You must not:

• use the services for fraud, misrepresentation, unlawful activity, harassment, or infringement;

• impersonate another person or institution, falsely claim ABBCU approval, or misstate accreditation status;

• attempt to gain unauthorized access to accounts, private codes, systems, files, or networks;

• upload malware, harmful code, or material that disrupts or degrades the services;

• scrape, harvest, probe, reverse engineer, or use automated means to access the services without written

• permission, except for ordinary indexing by public search engines;

• interfere with security controls, usage limits, intellectual-property notices, or the operation of the services; or use ABBCU content, names, seals, or services in a way that is deceptive, defamatory, or likely to cause confusion.

 

11. Electronic Communications
By providing an email address or other electronic contact information, you consent to receive application notices, invoices, decisions, policy updates, and other service-related communications electronically. You are
responsible for keeping your contact information current and for monitoring your designated email account. Electronic communications satisfy any requirement that a notice be in writing to the extent permitted by law,
unless a controlling ABBCU document requires another method.
 

12. Third-Party Services and Links
The services may contain links to or rely on third-party websites, payment processors, learning platforms, file-storage systems, videoconferencing tools, or other providers. ABBCU does not control and is not responsible for third-party content, availability, security, privacy practices, or terms. A link or integration does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Your use of a third-party service is governed by that provider’s terms and policies.
 

13. Privacy
ABBCU’s collection and use of personal information are governed by its applicable privacy notices and policies. By using the services, you acknowledge that information may be processed as reasonably necessary to
provide services, communicate with you, maintain records, protect security, comply with law, and administer accreditation-related activities. You are responsible for obtaining any notices or consents required before
providing personal information about students, employees, faculty, officers, or other individuals.

14. Children’s Use
The services are not directed to children under 18, and ABBCU does not knowingly request personal information directly from children under 18 through the general website. If you believe a child has submitted personal information without appropriate authorization, contact ABBCU so the matter can be reviewed. Institutional representatives must use appropriate safeguards and permissions when submitting information concerning minors.
 

15. Accessibility
ABBCU is committed to improving access to its digital services. Accessibility practices, accommodation requests, and methods for reporting a barrier are addressed in the ABBCU Accessibility Statement. If you experience difficulty using the services, please contact ABBCU for reasonable assistance.

16. Copyright Concerns
If you believe material available through an ABBCU service infringes your copyright, send a written notice to info@abbc.institute that identifies the copyrighted work, the allegedly infringing material and its location, your
contact information, a statement of good-faith belief, a statement that the information is accurate and that you are authorized to act, and your physical or electronic signature. ABBCU may remove or restrict access to
disputed material while it reviews a notice. This contact provision does not represent that ABBCU has completed any separate statutory agent designation.
 

17. Disclaimer of Warranties
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the services are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. ABBCU does not warrant that the services will be uninterrupted, error-free, completely secure, free from harmful components, or suitable for every purpose. ABBCU does not warrant the accuracy or availability of third-party content or services. Nothing in these Terms excludes a warranty or right that cannot lawfully be excluded.
 

18. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, ABBCU and its officers, directors, employees, evaluators, volunteers, contractors, and agents will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages, or for lost data, revenue, opportunity, reputation, or anticipated savings, arising from or related to the services or these Terms, even if advised that such loss may occur. These limitations do not apply where liability cannot lawfully be limited or excluded.

19. Indemnification
To the extent permitted by law, you agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless ABBCU and its officers,directors, employees, evaluators, volunteers, contractors, and agents from claims, losses, liabilities, damages, judgments, and reasonable costs arising from your unlawful use of the services, your material breach of these Terms, your submitted materials, or your infringement of another person’s rights. This section does not require indemnification for conduct solely attributable to ABBCU where such indemnification is prohibited by law.

20. Suspension and Termination
ABBCU may restrict, suspend, or terminate access to a service when reasonably necessary to protect security, investigate misconduct, address nonpayment, enforce these Terms or another governing agreement, comply
with law, or prevent harm. You may stop using the services at any time. Provisions that by their nature should survive termination—including payment obligations, intellectual-property protections, disclaimers, liability limits, indemnification, and dispute provisions—will survive.

21. Governing Law and Disputes
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Louisiana, without regard to conflict-of-law principles,
except where federal law or another mandatory law applies. Before filing a legal claim concerning these Terms, each party agrees to make a good-faith effort to resolve the matter through written notice and reasonable informal discussion. Nothing in this section prevents either party from seeking urgent injunctive relief or using an appeal or review process required by an applicable ABBCU policy.
 

22. Changes to the Services or These Terms
ABBCU may update the services and these Terms from time to time. The revised Terms will state a new effective or updated date and will apply prospectively when posted, unless applicable law requires additional notice or consent. Continued use after the revised Terms take effect constitutes acceptance. Material changes to an existing application or accreditation relationship remain subject to any notice requirements in the controlling ABBCU policy or agreement.
 

23. General Provisions
These Terms, together with incorporated policies and any applicable written agreement, constitute the agreement concerning use of the services. If a provision is held unenforceable, it will be modified only to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will remain effective. A failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver. You may not assign your rights or obligations under these Terms without ABBCU’s prior written consent. Headings are for convenience and do not limit meaning.
 

24. Contact ABBCU
Questions about these Terms may be directed to:
Accreditation Board for Bible Colleges & Universities (ABBCU)
Email: info@abbc.institute
Telephone: 225-350-4025
Website: www.abbcu.institute
These Terms should be read together with ABBCU’s Accessibility Statement, privacy notices, accreditation standards, fee schedules, application materials, appeals procedures, and any written agreement applicable to the
service or institution.