Visible Music College Information

Visible Music College is a music college based in Memphis, Tennessee, United States with teaching sites in the Chicago and Dallas areas. Its mission statement is to train and equip musicians, technicians, and business professionals in skill and character for effective service in the music industry and in the Church.

Visible Music College is authorized for operation as a post-secondary educational institution by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, offering four-year Bachelors degrees in Modern Music, Music Production and Music Business. Visible Music College also offers a one year certificate program in Modern Music, Music Production and Music Business. Visible music College trains and equips musicians, technicians, and business professionals in craft and christian character, for effective service in the music industry and in the Church. As of November 5, 2009, Visible Music College was awarded Accreditation as a Category II institution by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS).

Visible School was created in early 2000, after Dr. Ken Steorts, founding guitarist of the Christian rock band Skillet, had left the band to travel to Coventry, England to view a Christian music college resembling the idea of Visible School. After visiting the Nexus Academy of Music, he began Visible Community School of Music and Worship Arts as a ministry of Grace Covenant Church, also located in Memphis, Tennessee. The 2000-2001 school year began with twenty-one students and four full-time faculty.

During the 2001-2002 school year, the school formally separated from Grace Covenant Church, now Lifelink Church, and became an incorporated and authorized school of higher education in the state of Tennessee. In August 2002, the school grew to sixty-nine first and second year students, and partnered with Crichton College for accredited coursework through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The school also formalized relations with Days Inn, Lakeland, Tennessee for dormitory housing, creating a campus for the institution. The faculty increased to twelve and programs increased to match student and faculty growth.

In the late 2003, Visible School increased again to seventy-nine first and second-year students, twenty faculty members, and added a School Board. Working towards institutional accreditation through TRACS, Visible School is nearing all of its original intended goals of one hundred new students per year, and programs in the arts to minister worldwide.

In early 2003, faculty and staff decided to gain independent accreditation from Crichton College through TRACS. Throughout mid-2003, investigation into several arts accrediting bodies and various Christian accrediting bodies was completed. The decision to pursue TRACS recognition was made, and the school moved forward.

Contact with TRACS administration in mid 2003 culminated with Visible School being accepted as an applicant for accreditation status with TRACS. Visible Schools objective of offering competent, personal, and professional courses of study for undergraduate students was one step closer to reality.

During Applicant status for accreditation with TRACS, Visible School began the Self-Study documents, completing mid-2004 and hosting a visiting TRACS Evaluation Team in late 2004. This Team gave a report with 27 recommendations and 32 suggestions for improvement to Visible School, as the institution sought accreditation. As the president and director of academic development stood in front of the Accreditation Commission with two months of prepared response to the recommendations and suggestions, the College received report from the TRACS Commission that the status of the Colleges attempt to receive accreditation was "deferred" until April 2005. The staff and leadership of the college worked over the next six months to correct and amend the items that were in the Recommendations and Suggestions and received Candidate Status in late 2004.

In mid-2005, Visible School ended its relationship with Crichton College. Visible School, now able to receive United States Department of Education (DOE) Authorization for Title IV aid, stood alone as a college for which students could get loans and aid directly. However, the Department of Education denied Visible School the ability to obtain aid for its students due to low ratio scores financially. Expected enrollment of 100 became 65, with the course load of 35 students paying in cash and unsecured loans. Financially the budget shrank, and many of the faculty took part-time hours and pay cuts to balance.

In the late 2005 and early 2006, a single donor stepped up to cover the costs of running the school for the remainder of the 2005-2006 academic year. Visible School was able to hire a full-time Librarian and continue offering full course loads to students as a result of the TRACS accreditation process. The faculty continued to receive training. Many assessment processes began, as the College matured in planning, executing, and assessing the results of student education.

Mid 2006 saw an increase in enrollment and positive audited financial statements, bringing 65 full-time students, and with tight financial restraint and budgeting, a successful enough year to receive DOE authorization for the spring term. This in turn, granted financial aid to all students in any economic situation.

In early 2007, the student body number rose and the school focused on International Programs and Recording Projects, such as Visible Media Group; an artist development facet of Visible School, and VMI; a national and international week-long music training program. The Executive Council expanded to include all the Directors, including the new Director of Institutional Development. The College improved, with consolidated offices, technological updates, and reduced faculty workload. The focus of TRACS requirements link, coupled with the ongoing assessment and response with TRACS that had begun years before combined to give Visible School 70 new students.

In February 2008, the student population rose again. With more fundraising and spending, the financial success of the school is beginning to materialize. A healthy student body and faculty relationship is the hallmark of Visible School, and that connection has returned and grown through the initiatives of the school over the 2007-2008 school year. Expecting 80 full-time students in a reduced number of courses and major programs, Visible School has had the most successful year of its history in 2008-2009, culminating in a decision by second Self-Study, a TRACS Self-Study Team visit, and a TRACS Commission decision to grant Accredited Status to the College in 2009.

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