Sheriff with "degree" from Southwest U.

Discussion in 'Accreditation Discussions (RA, DETC, state approva' started by oxpecker, Apr 18, 2003.

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  1. oxpecker

    oxpecker New Member

  2. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    His claim that he did the degree because an accredited CJ doctorate was not available in the Midwest. Of course, that ignores the many accredited distance learning doctoral programs that would allow him to do a degree in that area--or a closely related one. Union comes to mind, of course. But I'm sure there are others, especially if you include foreign programs.

    Southwest, Reg Sheldrick's operation (co-founder), has been around since 1982. While always seemingly earnest, it has never been properly accredited. Ol' Reg, a hypnotist or hypnotherapist (I'm never sure), earned his doctorate from Newport (which he founded) before setting up Southwest. Southwest was originally in Arizona before it got too hot (the legal climate, not the weather). Then off to cooler climes in Louisiana, always fertile ground for planting and, uh, milling. Again, IIRC, Southwest was informed by DETC that its application for accreditation would likely not be successful (put mildly), and it was withdrawn. I do not know how they continue to operate legally in Louisiana, which requires unaccredited schools to be on an accreditation track. Southwest was derailed. Southwest was moved to Lousiana prior to that state's new rules, but they did not grandfather existing schools (hoping to rid the state of them, I'm sure), and have ordered several closed. It was reported here in January that Southwest was given until June 30, 2003. I guess to either get back on an accreditation track or move. My money's on the move.

    The sheriff got caught, then offered an oily explanation for it. Why the newspaper didn't challenge this I do not know. But it is these failings that contribute mightily to the successes of "less-than-wonderfuls" and degree mills, not to mention their customers. Sheesh!:rolleyes:
     
  3. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    Interesting.
     
  4. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    Rich has it wrong. Southwest is on an approved accreditation track, and thus one of the very few Louisiana unaccredited schools to be operating with state blessing. I believe they are scheduled for DETC visitation later this year. They also happen to be for sale -- Sheldrick being in poor health.
     
  5. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    I could have sworn Southwest got dumped by DETC. I must have confused them with Orion's dumping. Sigh. I think I got the rest right. :eek:
     
  6. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    Southwest started the process with DETC 3 or 4 years ago. DETC never announces anything other than successful awarding of accreditation. Southwest announced they had voluntarily put the process on hold, in order to make certain changes. And, remarkably enough, that is just what they did. Following the changes, DETC presumably agreed to continue the process, which was all that Louisiana's Board of Regents required to renew their provisional permit.

    Without having examined courses in any detail, my sense of things is that Southwest's requirements are not all that different from the four schools that DETC has accredited in the last few years that raised both eyebrows and hackles among some here: ACICS, Columbia Southern, Andrew Jackson, and California National.

    I wouldn't bet against Southwest getting DETC accreditation this time around.
     

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