APUS/AMU "has state's higher education leaders talking about stricter regulations"

Commission wants to close loophole governing Internet college

 

"They're not only conferring certificates. They are going much beyond the correspondent school where you get your truck drivers license. They confer associate degrees. They confer baccalaureate degrees and they now confer master's degrees and they have never been before this body.""

Do correspondence schools issue licenses to drive trucks? I thought that was a function of the commonwealth.

AMU awarded master's degrees before baccalaureate and associate degrees. I think the undergraduate programs began in 1998.

Well, at least they are not complaining about the APUS name yet.

 

I don't see what all the fuss is about. AMU is legitimately accredited, which should allay the concerns of the WV people.

These people should talk to Jeffrey Brunton.

 

Not WV yet ..... BUT...

Oregon's ODA has now posted an "Advisory" about AMU, strangely enough in their unaccredited colleges section just under the illegal schools list:

"ADVISORY regarding degrees earned from American Public University, American Military University and American Community College, based in Virginia or West Virginia. These schools are part of an entity calling itself the "American Public University System," but in fact this is a for-profit distance-education school, not a public university. Degrees from these schools are accredited by DETC and are legal for use as general credentials in Oregon. However, these degrees cannot be used for some professions in Oregon, e.g., K-12 teaching or some public safety work. Credits from these schools may or may not transfer to accredited Oregon colleges"

It seems to me that the way this is worded, and the general placement of the information, it is intended to leave a less than favorable and a just-barely-legal impression of AMU.

 

yes but "they're coming in and we have to do something" -Kay Goodwin, Secretary of Education and the Arts.

Sounds like the Education and the Arts committee doesn't know what it is doing, but they have to do "something!"

 

This is a case, I believe, where the Higher Education Policy Commission, through J. Michael Mullen, feels the need to say something. Mr. Mullins statements don't make sense and show a complete lack of knowledge on the subject of distance education.
In politics , as elsewhere, a nut goes with every bolt.

 

My impression is the warning is there to point out the fact that their new names imply things that are clearly untrue. That should by itself set off a few warning bells. The ODA then goes on to point out they are accredited and legal in Oregon with a few exceptions. Nice job by the ODA. Now for whoever at AMU that thought up and approved their less than accrate name change...

 

I've always wondered how they do truck driving by distance learning, but DETC accredits this one:
http://www.truckschool.com

Enclosed find one (1) Peterbilt. Drive it around the block three times and send it back to us.

 

I just blasted the rag for not questioning the statements. Doubt it will do any good because researching a story is simply beyond the capabilities or interest of most reporters.

 

The name has been discussed here before and it is just plain misleading. It leaves one with the distinct impression that something shady is going on. I don't think anything shady is really going on except for the misleading name. I believe that it is entirely reasonable and public service of the ODA to warn people that might be mislead by this mind boggling name chosen by an apparently totally upstanding organization. IMHO, all blame for any negative impressions that the ODA may leave here are the full responsibility of APUS for choosing such a misleading name.

 

Yes, APUS is a dumb name, but the WV guvmint folks appear to be byrdbrains.

 

APUS as a name is not good and can mislead the uninformed, but why do you think the ODA put their alert on their unaccredited schools page right next door to the illegal schools list? This doesn't make sense to me.

 

APUS' students and faculty are distributed around the world. It doesn't matter where it's located. The only impact on West Virginia is the 120-or-so jobs they're bringing into the state, which should be a good thing. (They're uprooting their operation and moving it, as opposed to opening a branch office in WVa.)

There should be no change in its educational impact on West Virginians. (Tiny, I would suspect.)

 

And the reality is that the name does read like a mill. They are not a public university system. We already have institutions that are public and we, surprisingly, call them public universities. They are not one of them.

If it reads like a scam, don't be surprised when people treat it like a scam. In the present format, it is unclear to me that they should achieve regional accreditation.

Now, if it was just the American Military University portion, I wouldn't have a problem with that. Their implied goal of being all things to all people is going to work against them.



Tom Nixon

 

They are not a public university system.

On three occasions, I have addressed this very concern to AMU/APUS. Most recently in June of this year. My email, in part:

I have read many negative comments on the name "American Public University System". Comments on the SCHEV website and on the DEGREEINFO.COM website are examples of this. Individuals have denigrated the choice of this name and have made, what I think is a valid argument, that "APUS is neither public (as understood in the context of American education) nor is it a university system. I understand that the purpose of this name is to show the more diverse nature of the university, but many have been outraged and suggested that its purpose is to deceive potential students. I do not believe this, but I do think this name has already unnecessary cost the university.

AMU/APUS response, in part:

We truly appreciate your comments and candor. Your opinions regarding the APUS system are valid and I will ensure they are highlighted as I submit my comments to the self-study committee for review.

Best of luck to you in your MBA and bachelor's programs. You are a busy man for certain!

V/R,

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


I'll let you know if I hear anything else.