Americus University - lawsuit

Discussion in 'Accreditation Discussions (RA, DETC, state approva' started by Carl_Reginstein, Feb 25, 2004.

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  1. Here's an unaccredited school that doesn't get talked about too much here. Apparently American University in DC sued them over similarity between the names, and won in an arbitration settlement....

    http://www.arb-forum.com/domains/decisions/193904.htm

    The "university" seems to have disappeared from the web.

    There was a link at one time (http://www.gregryberg.com/aikenstandard033102.html) about an election in South Carolina where one of the contestants had a degree from Americus and his opponent was making an issue of it. The link above is no longer "live", but I was able to pull this off the Google cache.


    Greg Ryberg In the News

    Aiken Standard
    March 31, 2002
    "Governor Should Rescind Nomination"

    Did you know that you can receive a college degree in just 20 days? For a mere $450 check, anyone can get an associate or bachelor degree. For just $200 more, you can receive a doctorate degree. Don't believe me? Go ahead and check it out yourself by going to www.1onlinecollegedegrees.com.

    Why should you care? You should care because this Internet "university" will affect you and the integrity of our judicial system if the Governor has his way. South Carolina Governor Jim Hodges is trying to appoint a magistrate in Aiken County whose diploma is from Americus University - an Internet institution of higher learning.

    While I certainly encourage continuing education, my idea of an education includes more than a few hundred bucks and an e-mail address. And at Americus University that's about all it takes to "graduate".

    Don't misunderstand me. I have no problem with the individual whom the Governor has nominated. I've met with him. And he seems like a nice guy. But under state law, he just isn't qualified.

    This issue would almost be funny if it weren't so serious. Any way you look at it, the Governor's candidate does not meet the standard state qualifications that require a two-year degree or more. It is specifically stated in the South Carolina Code of Laws that a South Carolina magistrate is required to hold at least a two-year associate degree - not a 20-day associate degree obtained at the last second in order to skirt the two year requirement.

    Nevertheless, the Governor's Office continues to push this nomination saying, "The Governor doesn't have a problem with this degree because it meets the letter of the law."

    The fact that our Governor doesn't have a problem with a degree that comes from a university that doesn't even hold classes or issues grades is surprising and disturbing. If Jim Hodges will relax standards for judges, what's next? Teachers? Doctors?

    South Carolina includes this provision in order to maintain minimum standards among magistrates who would enforce our laws. Think about it. The last thing we need are people judging the law who bent it to get to that position in the first place.

    Another reason that this issue disturbs me is this: Governor Hodges has proclaimed himself as the "Education Governor." Since the 1998 election, and his campaign prior to, Governor Hodges has been very clear that his number one priority is education - apparently until now.

    He convinced South Carolina that the lottery would be good for education. And he's spent countless hours discussing how important education is to our families, communities, and the general well-being of South Carolina.

    Now, the Governor is apparently telling us education isn't all that important after all if it is politically expedient for it not to be. He's telling us that standards are negotiable. And he's telling us that when it comes to our next magistrate, an Associates or Bachelors degree bought and paid for, not learned and earned, at an Internet University is good enough for South Carolina. Last week Governor Hodges defended this mail-order diploma as sufficient in his view.

    I disagree.

    It is unacceptable for the Governor to appoint a magistrate with a 20-day associate degree from an unaccredited college. Twenty days is not two years. It's just that simple.

    The Governor must follow the law, after all he is a lawyer and under the Constitution, the Chief Magistrate of the State. His nominee must meet the law's minimum standards. And we as a community must send Governor Hodges the signal that we expect to be treated fairly and with respect.

    South Carolina deserves magistrates who will not only enforce the law, but who meet the minimum requirements of it. That's why I'm calling on Governor Hodges to rescind this nomination.
     

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