Panama and Middle States

Discussion in 'Accreditation Discussions (RA, DETC, state approva' started by SteveFoerster, Apr 15, 2005.

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  1. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    There are a number of sources, including a press release on Cornell's web site, saying that Middle States accredits institutions not only in the mid-Atlantic states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, but also in the Republic of Panama.

    Weirdly, however, Middle States's web site does not have anything on any school in Panama.

    Does anyone know whether Middle States DOES accredit universities in Panama, whether they USED TO do so but no longer do, or whether I've just been completely misinformed?

    Also, if Middle States is not involved in accrediting Panamanian universities, does anyone know which (presumably local) body does and how well respected they are?

    Thanks,

    -=Steve=-
     
  2. jugador

    jugador New Member

    I Googled it, and apparently the Middle States used to accredit the Panama Canal College. I'm guessing they are now defunct since all links to it appear dead.
     
  3. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools takes an interest in Mexico and Central America. It accredits those schools in the area that are interested in applying and can successfully meet the requirements. They currently list:

    Fundacion Universidad de las Americas-Puebla

    Instituto Centroamericano de Administracion de Empresas

    Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey

    Universidad de Monterrey

    Universidad de las Americas - A.C.

    But obviously there's no necessity or expectation that Latin American universities seek accreditation by the gringos. I suppose that some schools opt to go for RA to improve their degrees' utility in the United States and elsewhere. Monterrey in particular has close economic and cultural ties to Texas.

    I think that Middle States accredits schools in US Caribbean territories like Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and the (former) Panama Canal Zone. Panama Canal College was a 2-year community college operated by the US government to serve staff and dependents in the Zone, and apparently has closed after the Zone was handed over to Panama.
     
  4. atraxler

    atraxler New Member

    To my knowledge, Middle States has never accredited a Panamanian university. Universities are created by a government decree, or approved by Panama's Ministerio de Educacion (to verify that a school is legit, I would suggest contacting them).

    Back when I used to live there ('til the late '80s), the most respected universities were: Universidad de Panama, Universidad Santa Maria la Antigua (private) and Universidad Tecnologica de Panama. Nowadays there are more schools, but I don't know much about their reputation.

    PCC (defunct) was not a Panamanian institution, and I am pretty sure it was accredited by MSA. I believe Florida State U still has some operations in the former Canal Zone.
     
  5. adireynolds

    adireynolds New Member

    From my understanding, certain RA bodies had, erm, a sorta "jurisdiction" when it comes to accrediting foreign schools . . . for example, Middle States usually got the Middle Eastern and Latin American applicants, and so on. But apparently a stink was raised that this wasn't fair to the other regional bodies, so now foreign schools can apply to whichever body they want for accreditation.

    Cheers,
    Adrienne
     

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