U. of Phoenix Expects to Be Placed on Probation by Its Accreditor

...." a team of reviewers from the Higher Learning Commission had concluded that the university had insufficient autonomy from its corporate parent."

U. of Phoenix Expects Probation From Its Accreditor - Administration - The Chronicle of Higher Education

 

I could see it coming for years ago. It does not surprise me at all.

 

I have a hunch that a lot of us agree with this.

 

Hello!
I have a concern with this new, I'm currently an UoP student with 60 credits, I assume that I will finish my bachelor within 1 and half year, 2 years wort scenario. Do you believe that if the UoP loses its accreditation that could happen within the next 2 years? I'm an international student and enrolled in UoP to get a fast way to be accepted in a master, I have a degree in my country but since it is a career of 3 years it was not accepted by some universities in the US for a Master... I'm not very interested in the prestige of the university where I get my bachelor, but I'm really interested that it should be an accredited one.

Thank you for advice!
Regards

 

I doubt that UoP will lose its accreditation. Unlike most of the other institutions on probation with their accrediting bodies, the Apollo Group has the resources to adapt its operations to the accrediting bodies' requirements. This big problem here is that educational institutions are generally given a certain level of autonomy to make educational decisions and, in this case, it appears that the corporate offices at Apollo are calling all the shots.

Given the fact that Senators Harkin and Durbin (and now the White House) have been tightening the thumbscrews on the regional accrediting agencies (especially the Higher Learning Commission of North Central), we could see this crackdown on Phoenix coming from a mile away (as Tekman notes). In order to save its own skin, the Higher Learning Commission has to come down hard and publicly on the biggest and most high profile of the for-profit universities. Apollo has the power to address the situation.

 

In the event that it does lose the accreditation, how long do you think the process will take? If this happen in say 2 years, and you are just 10 credits away from your diploma, will it lose its value? your credits already earned will be "transferable" as they were earned in a, up to that point, earned in accredited university?

Thanks and sorry for so many questions! I'm doing a big investment in my education, I don't have any aid from the government and want to be sure about my future.

 

It certainly shouldn't surprise anyone who reads degreeinfo regularly, because the same issue was disclosed and discussed in a previous degreeinfo thread, "The University of Phoenix is expecting sanction from the HLC", that was started seven weeks ago.

The only new information is about the nature of the sanction. HLC has two sanctions, "on notice" and "on probation". UoP previously thought they would be placed "on notice" (which is less serious). Now UoP apparently thinks they will be placed "on probation" (which is more serious)

 

Thank Steve! I have a degree in Argentina called "Analyst programmer university", sadly it is only 3 years long and does not apply to a master in the US (Despite the fact that the amount of hours it covers are more than the average bachelor in US). The university that granted most credits for me was UoP, besides it did't require my transcripts to be send by my university, which is something that could take years to happen. I just want to end my US bachelor as soon as possible, no matter the career, but the university should be an accredited one so at the end I could be accepted in a master. I like UoP so far, but this new really concerned me, I'd hate to be a couple of credits away from my diploma and learn that UoP will lose the accreditation before that.

 

Dear Faculty,

On Feb. 22, University of Phoenix received the Higher Learning Commission’s (HLC) draft report outlining its initial findings from the comprehensive evaluation process – a significant milestone in the process to maintain our accreditation. The draft report recognizes the valuable work being done at University of Phoenix in several critical academic and operational areas, as well as the history of innovation and commitment to a diverse student body.

The draft report also identifies a few areas in which the HLC review team believes that additional work needs to be done – primarily in the area of governance between Apollo Group and University of Phoenix – to fully meet all of the criteria for accreditation.

Because of this work, the HLC review team reports that it will recommend that University of Phoenix be placed on probation, a status that indicates conditions exist which places the institution out of compliance on at least one of the accreditation criteria.

I want to be very clear: University of Phoenix remains accredited by HLC. Even if we were to be placed on probation, the University would remain accredited for the period of probation. In other words, our accreditation as a degree-granting institution has not changed.

It’s important to emphasize that a draft report is one step in a much broader process. Now we will have the opportunity to review the report and identify for HLC those areas we believe to contain errors or misstatements. We intend to actively engage HLC on matters of fact substantive judgment and due process. In the meantime, keep in mind that nothing is final until the full HLC board issues a final action, which is not expected for at least several months.

University of Phoenix received its initial accreditation from HLC in 1978 and has maintained its accreditation in good standing since then. What’s more, in recent years we have taken steps we believe have only served to strengthen our governance model. We have more work to do, and it’s already under way.

We will keep you updated as appropriate, as the reaffirmation process continues.

Also, we’ve prepared a frequently asked questions document for your reference.

Thanks again for all you do.

Best,



Bill Pepicello, Ph.D.
President, University of Phoenix

 

I am really surprised that more schools under the HLC have not been given sanctions. I know of at least one other for-profit school that seems to be quite driven by its corporate parent.

 

Maybe they UoP should apply for NA accreditation, DETC?
Just in case? Sarcastic here

As was mentioned before, the Apollo group will make the required changes.
To match $$$$$$$ at stake.