An association of denominationally owned and controlled institutions of higher education and secondary schools throughout the world that (1) have been approved and registered by, or accredited with, state, regional, or national associations or by the Board of Regents of the Department of Education of the General Conference, and (2) are operated in harmony with the aims and policies approved by the General Conference and by the educational boards and executive committees of the union conferences and divisions in which the schools are situated.
It was brought into existence in 1929 as the Association of Seventh-day Adventist Colleges and Secondary Schools to deal with common problems in the North American Division confronting denominationally owned and operated schools in their relationship with university, state, and regional accrediting organizations. Membership consisted of the Board of Regents of the General Conference Department of Education (the executive committee of the association), qualifying SDA educational institutions, certain honorary members, secretary and associate secretaries of the General Conference Department of Education, and union conference secretaries of education. The secretary of the Department of Education is the president (formerly chair) of the association. In 1943 the name of the association was changed to Association of SDA Institutions of Higher Education and Secondary Schools. By 1954 the organization was enlarged beyond North America to include institutions of higher education, training schools, and secondary schools of the overseas divisions, and duties were expanded. The organization aimed “to assist member institutions in identifying, reaching, and maintaining adequate standards in administration, management, teaching, scholarship, Christian worship and service and citizenship, character training, and health education, and to assist the church in understanding and giving support to its system of schools,” and to assist the educational institutions of the church in interpreting and meeting the needs of the denomination and its young people. In 1962 the constitution and bylaws were revised, enlarging the Board of Regents, making provision for representation on it from college departments of education and additional representation from academy principals and union conference secretaries of education. The association became inactive in 1970 when the Association of Seventh-day Adventist Educators was organized.