St. John's University (Springfield, Louisiana)
Encyclopedia
St. John's University of Practical Theology is an unaccredited
institution of higher education formerly located in Springfield, Louisiana
, and offering distance education
.
In 2007, a Florida
journalist reported that St. John's had listed 11 branch campuses as of 1988, including branches in St. Petersburg, Florida
; Misty Mountain, North Carolina; and Ibadan, Nigeria. St. John's University was incorporated in the state of Florida from 1987 until 1991, registered to June Bletzer, compiler of the Encylopedic Psychic Dictionary.
St. John's has not been accredited by any entity recognized by U.S. authorities. In 2007, a school spokesperson told Florida journalists that the school had "private accreditation." A university catalog from 1998-1999 stated that the school was accredited by Accrediting Commission International
, an unrecognized accreditor.
In 2005 the school relocated to a house in Nashville, Tennessee
.
, author, and talk-show host Eldon Taylor, a prominent exponent of subliminal learning
, whose credentials include a Ph.D.
in clinical psychology from St. John's.
Walter McNeil, former Tallahassee police chief who in 2007 became Secretary of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice
and in 2008 became Secretary of the state's Department of Corrections
, obtained a master's degree
in criminal justice from St. John's in 2001. In 2007, after his appointment by Florida governor Charlie Crist
to direct the state's juvenile justice programs led to the revelation that his master's degree was from an unaccredited school, McNeil said that he had selected St. John's because he wanted to attend a "faith-based university" and acknowledged that he might have been deluded by the institution. He reported that his St. John's program had taken somewhere between 18 to 24 months to complete. Journalists who obtained McNeil's academic transcript reported that it listed credit for three St. John's courses taken by McNeil, additional credit for teaching undergraduate-level online courses, and 19 credits for prior experience, which McNeil said included 13 transfer credit
s for other graduate study and six credits for professional experience.
Educational accreditation
Educational accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met...
institution of higher education formerly located in Springfield, Louisiana
Springfield, Louisiana
Springfield is a town in Livingston Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 395 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Springfield is located at ....
, and offering distance education
Distance education
Distance education or distance learning is a field of education that focuses on teaching methods and technology with the aim of delivering teaching, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional educational setting such as a classroom...
.
History
The university was founded by Arthur Winkler, a Christian minister and hypnotherapist who died in 1998, and is related to a church, the Congregational Church of Practical Theology.In 2007, a Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
journalist reported that St. John's had listed 11 branch campuses as of 1988, including branches in St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
; Misty Mountain, North Carolina; and Ibadan, Nigeria. St. John's University was incorporated in the state of Florida from 1987 until 1991, registered to June Bletzer, compiler of the Encylopedic Psychic Dictionary.
St. John's has not been accredited by any entity recognized by U.S. authorities. In 2007, a school spokesperson told Florida journalists that the school had "private accreditation." A university catalog from 1998-1999 stated that the school was accredited by Accrediting Commission International
Accrediting Commission International
Accrediting Commission International , also known as Accrediting Commission International for Schools, Colleges, and Theological Seminaries, possibly associated with International Accrediting Commission , also known as International Accrediting Commission for Schools, Colleges and Theological...
, an unrecognized accreditor.
In 2005 the school relocated to a house in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
.
Publications
Several books by E. Arthur Winkler are listed with St. John's University Publications as their publisher. Titles include Hypnosis and God (1976), The Power of Suggestion with Hypnosis (1989), Hypnotherapy (1989)Notable alumni
Notable alumni include psychologistPsychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
, author, and talk-show host Eldon Taylor, a prominent exponent of subliminal learning
Subliminal stimuli
Subliminal stimuli , contrary to supraliminal stimuli or "above threshold", are any sensory stimuli below an individual's threshold for conscious perception. The large majority of research has found that subliminal messages do not produce strong or lasting changes in behavior...
, whose credentials include a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in clinical psychology from St. John's.
Walter McNeil, former Tallahassee police chief who in 2007 became Secretary of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice
Florida Department of Juvenile Justice
The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice is a state agency of Florida that operates juvenile detention centers. Its headquarters are in the Knight Building in Tallahassee.-Residential facilities:...
and in 2008 became Secretary of the state's Department of Corrections
Florida Department of Corrections
The Florida Department of Corrections, established in 1821, operates state prisons in Florida. It has its headquarters in Tallahassee.The Florida Department of Corrections operates the third largest state prison system in the United States...
, obtained a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in criminal justice from St. John's in 2001. In 2007, after his appointment by Florida governor Charlie Crist
Charlie Crist
Charles Joseph "Charlie" Crist, Jr. is an American politician who was the 44th Governor of Florida. Prior to his election as governor, Crist previously served as Florida State Senator, Education Commissioner, and Attorney General...
to direct the state's juvenile justice programs led to the revelation that his master's degree was from an unaccredited school, McNeil said that he had selected St. John's because he wanted to attend a "faith-based university" and acknowledged that he might have been deluded by the institution. He reported that his St. John's program had taken somewhere between 18 to 24 months to complete. Journalists who obtained McNeil's academic transcript reported that it listed credit for three St. John's courses taken by McNeil, additional credit for teaching undergraduate-level online courses, and 19 credits for prior experience, which McNeil said included 13 transfer credit
Transfer credit
Transfer credit, credit transfer, or advanced standing are the terms used by colleges and universities for the procedure of granting credit to a student for educational experiences or courses undertaken at another institution....
s for other graduate study and six credits for professional experience.