Accreditation of Evaluation Services

Discussion in 'Accreditation Discussions (RA, DETC, state approva' started by BobMaluk, May 29, 2005.

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  1. BobMaluk

    BobMaluk New Member

    Hello!

    I am not new here in this forum, but it´s my first posting here.
    In my opinion this is the best discussion board about distance learning worldwide. Many of you have done a good job here.

    In August I will get my MBA at Frederick Institute of Technology, Cyprus, EU (recognized by the Ministry of Education). I am interested in further studies in the United States.

    What about accreditation of evaluation agencies?
    Some agencies tell that AACRAO or NAFSA accrediation is very important for recognition of foreign degrees. But now I was told that many Universities only accept NACES accredited agencies.

    What is the best accreditation?
     
  2. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    Welcome anyway.

    Credential evaluation is unregulated and there aren't any accreditors. The acronyms you list above belong to professional organizations for university admissions officers, foreign student advisers and the like. But it isn't clear how closely these groups police their memberships.

    What often happens is that prospective overseas students contact the American universities that they hope to attend, and if a foreign-credential evaluation is necessary the university will tell the student which evaluators the university accepts.
     
  3. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    Is safe to state that usually NACES member agencies have higher
    referal and recognition rate than others that are not NACES?

    And this is not an accreditation but more of membership.
     
  4. BobMaluk

    BobMaluk New Member

  5. Bill Huffman

    Bill Huffman Well-Known Member

    I think you should do what Bill suggested. Find out from the school what evaluation service they use.

    I looked at your link and at first glance it appears okay but that means nothing. These academic frauds copy legitimate sites and change it to their own name. So at first glance it looks good.
     
  6. DesElms

    DesElms New Member

    You are misusing the word "accreditation" here. Whatever "accreditation" (or equivalent) your MBA has, it derives from the government of the country in which the institution which awarded it is located.

    A foreign (non-US) degree that has been evaluated by a US degree evaluation agency does not, by said evaluation, become "accredited." Said evaluation's sole purpose is to figure out if the foreign degree in question is equivalent to one that is issued by an accredited US institution of higher learning and, if so, to formally declare it as such. Even if the evaluation results are positive, the foreign degree in question does not become, by said evaluation results, "accredited." Said degree is simply declared equivalent to a similar degree from an accredited US college or university. It is a declaration that carries sufficient weight with US government, US universities/colleges, and US employers that the holder of the foreign degree may enjoy the same benefits of degree ownership as any US graduate of an accredited college/university.

    The entity AACRAO, and most NACES agencies, are appropriate degree evaluators in the US. NAFSA is not.

    With some government agencies, colleges/universities and/or employers, the opinion of AACRAO carries more weight and enjoys more respect. With yet others, the opinion of a NACES member agency is considered better. Still others will accept either. It just depends. As you have been advised elsewhere in this thread, check with whomever you intend to present your MBA and find out the evaluation agency (or agencies) whose opinon(s) they will respect, and then get your MBA evaluate by said agency (or, if more than one, then by at least one of them).

    Another angle would be to get your MBA evaluated by both AACRAO and the largest and most impressive of the NACES member agencies. It's not that expensive to get one's foreign degree evaluated. Have both a positive AACRAO and a NACES member agency evaluation to which you can refer may make your life easier in many cases.

    Your language is odd, so I'm not completely sure what you're asking; but if you're asking whether NACES member agencies are better than non-NACES member agencies (which are not also AACRAO itself), then I think there is no question that any credential evaluation agency that is not AACRAO or a NACES member agency is a waste of time.

    If you're wondering, in addition, whether some NACES agencies are "better" than others, I'd say probably yes...

    ...in the same way as some regionally-accredited colleges/universities are "better" than others. Being regionally-accredited ensure minimum, not maximum, standards. Similarly, being a NACES member agency means that said agency meets NACES's minimum credential evaluation agency standards. But there are, no doubt, some NACES member agencies that are better at it; and/or offer more features, advantages and/or benefits than do others. That's yet another reason for any foreign (i.e., non-US) degree holder to check first with whomever s/he plans to present his/her foreign credential and find out what NACES agency tickles their fancy.
     
  7. MichaelR

    MichaelR Member

    NACES isn't your typical membership group. You don't just pay dues and your in. You pay dues, and then have to do 10-12 evalautions for them. These "test" evaluations consist of various documents, some are fake some aren't. Its not easy to tell most of the time. You must document everything you do in the evaluation and explain why its good or not good, and the resources you used.

    Not to say that NACES evalautions are better than non-NACES evaluations, but its not easy to get into NACES.
     
  8. BobMaluk

    BobMaluk New Member

    Yes, you´re right. That´s the best way.
    I´ll check it out with the University then.
    Thank you all for your good advice.
     

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