CPU & the Republic of Malawi

Has anyone heard anymore details about the Republic of Malawi accreditation of CPU. I noticed that the issue itself was posted on degree.net and had been a topic of conversation on the CPU forum.

North

 

Hi North;
The latest related to the Malawi accreditation of CPU is posted in 3 files in PDF format at the following site. http://www.altcpualumni.org/cpumontana/dex7montana.html

I got the above memos directly from CPU's president, Dr. Les Carr, and uploaded them to the site. Dr. Carr tells me that the name "CPU-Montana" is no more. It's name has been changed to Columbia Commonwealth University, related to a strategic effort to building a distance-education mission based in Malawi (which recently accredited CPU - that document is also on the above website).

There are some activities, I am told, toward establishing further credibility in Africa (and the Commonwealth and the USA). I cannot say what these plans are until I see their fruits in the distance (CPU alumni tend to lean toward skepticism considering the past five years of CPU's history), but the activities mentioned are indeed serious activities revolving around legitimate recognitions.

I can say that the above activities include pursuit of regional accreditation with NWASC, but in light of the fiasco of the past five years these other activities are planned to strengthen CPU's standing prior to making the initial approach to NWASC. Dr. Carr has, in the past, guided three institutions to regional accreditation.

Incidently, the CPU alumni that I am connected with (some 60+) keep hammering home their wishes for regional accreditation, some of them quite strongly (almost as strongly as Levicoff). Favorably, Dr. Carr, since taking over the reins, has ushered in an open approach and is consulting regularly with alumni on the various strategic planning matters.

I'll post something new here as soon as I find out (it will also be posted at the Alternative Alumni Group of CPU website and discussion forum (such docs are usually posted on the same URL as above). There could be another announcement before the end of May.

The old CPU still exists in reduced format in Novato, CA, as the alumni affairs office. I am told by Carr that it needed to stay put for alumni, but more importantly to litigate its case in the USA Federal Court against the alleged corrupt CPPVE efforts to shut CPU down.
I'll keep people posted if/when anything new happens.
Earon

 

Earon, thanks for posting the information! It will be interesting to see how this develops. CPU may do better than Berne with this relationship based on the fact that when foreign credential evaluators look at Malawi it has it's own public university system (I am assuming) and therefore some basis for accrediting other universities. Questions which arise are whether Malawi will request the listing of CPU with the UNESCO Handbook and the Commonwealth equivalent.

Without going into much detail how does CPU respond to the information that came out with regard to irregularities in Ph.D. requirements at CPU, etc prior to the revocation of its state approval. I know CPU is concerned with the process that went on but what about the actual allegations of shoddy academics? How has the CPU administration reacted to those allegations.

Thanks.

North

 

North,
I wish I could give you a sound-bite version of the questions you pose, but it can't be done. So here's the slightly longer version.

Malawi, indeed, has its own university system (6 colleges comprising the Univesity of Malawi)including a decent medical school. It is also a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities. UNESCO membership is in the planning as is the Association of African Universities and the ACU, but this, according to Dr. Carr, must be done sequentially and methodically.

On the matter of the irregularities in Ph.D. programs alleged by the CPPVE visiting team:

CPU couldn't continue to be proactive while fighting legal battles for five years. In a sense, CPU got left behing in the dust. It took a real beating. But now they are very proactive and moving along swiftly in their strategic plan. There's not much CPU can do regarding the CPPVE allegations other than continue the legal fight - in federal court -which CPU-CA is doing. Meanwhile, the proactive model of CPU started in December as CPU-Montana, but quite recently changed its name to CCU- Columbia Commonwealth University.

I have acquired the CPPVE team report. I have also acquired the report of an independent education consulting firm that carried out an assessment of the CPPVE findings and an assessment of CPU. The consultant's findings refute almost all of the CPPVE findings, which were arrived at in 1 1/2 days without consulting the Chief Academic Officer (Dr. Carr). CPU had several site visits over 17 years and all took over 3 days.

The short of this is that I'm posting both reports to the CPU X-files portion of the http://www.altcpualumni.org website. The public can view all of what is stated and be the judge. The whole thing has emerged as an attempted hatchet job on CPU by a runaway bureacratic office. The reports will be uploaded to the website in about a week.

Incidently, the visiting team singled out two CPU Deans as having inferior and unaccredited credentials not befitting their office (Ph.D.'s the University of Bremen, and the University of Wales - both first rate European and UK universities). Both Deans just happened to be people of color (Africans).

Then there's the court transcript that clearly reveals testimony from Dr. Betty Dow, former CPPVE employee, who had evaluated CPU as a member of a site team some years before. Dow stated that the findings were always good at CPU visits, but that as early as late 1992 the deputy director of CPPVE had stated to Dow on several occasions that the CPPVE was going to fail CPU on the next site visit. That's already on the website. Here's another one - the three judges that ruled against CPU's appeals were all ex district attorneys who were cronies of the state district attorney prosecuting the CPU case. The three former prosecutors had all worked out of the same area as the district attorney. That's on the website, too, complete with bios of the three apeals judges. The plot is indeed a thick one., and as I have said before "The truth is out there".
-PS- I'm trying to get some revealing info on the future CCU/CPU plans in the next 24 hours, but I can't be certain.
Earon

 

My opinion (which is based on nothing more than my gut reaction combined with CPU's rather questionable history) is that the Malawi "accreditation" is nothing more than another dodge to avoid legitimate accreditation. Look at their history...once California denied CPU renewal of CA approval, they (CPU) initially defied the CA ruling and just kept on issuing degrees. Then came the "Indian Tribe" Accreditation, which was mercifully short-lived.

Now, CPU moves to Montana and reorganizes. Have we seen this before?

This many questions about a single school, you really have to wonder.....

Bruce

 

I still call it accreditation by stealth !!!

CFr

 

Hi Bruce,
Just a clarification of a matter of language. There is no "move" as you assert. I certainly haven't stated that there has been a move in my postings in this thread, so I don't know where you're getting the word "move".

What I have been told (and I am simply passing on what I have been told by CPU's President, as a courtesy because someone inquired) is that there are two separate legal corporations. One is CPU-CA (which is not accepting students but is continuing with its case against CA's CPPVE/BPPVE in US Federal Appeals Court) and the other is Columbia Commonwealth University, based in Montana - two separate organizations. There has not been a "move".

I talked about this very thing with CCU's president Dr. Les Carr when he was in Vancouver a month ago. The reason I brought it up is because I suspected that someone here would use the word "move" (I wasn't sure whom exactly but there are certain things that are predictable around here). There has been no move.

But, just as you state, there are many questions and gut reactions and suspicions, even from CPU's alumni, some of which are very vocal about it. Hopefully, I might be able to get some answers to some of the questions posted here tonight. I have some answers but it is not my intention to publish them here until I have permission. The answers were to some pointed alumni questions that were on the http://www.altcpualumni.org discussion forum yesterday, which is now password protected.

But let's face it, nothing is going to satisfy you (or me) until there is proper accreditation. And even with proper accreditation you and certain others will then focus on the other historical things that happened from 1995 to 2000 (they lost their approval in 1995, they lost an administrative court hearing in 1997, they got a short-lived Indian accreditation in 1998 (a really stupid move), they lost their appeals in 1999-2000).

Bruce, we've all got opinions (most of them similar in this case). Let's just wait and see. I'm not recommending students until they're accredited.
Earon

 

OK, I got an OK to post Dr. Les Carr's answers to 4 questions from a CPU alum.
The questions were posed and answered yesterday. I've also placed my short correspondence with Les Carr on the matter in the text. I got involved with this because I'm the person who set up the http://www.altcpualumni.org website and discussion forum. Enjoy.
Earon
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

From Dr. Les Carr:

Dear Earon-As you know, my policy is to answer questions directly. Note my answers below.
----- Original Message -----
From: E.T. Earon Kavanagh
To: Les Carr
Sent: Sunday, April 29, 2001 6:06 PM
Subject: Questions on CCU and Malawi


Hi Les,
CPU alum Glen McDaniel asked me to forward these (very poignant and important) questions on the you. Can I have a copy of your reply for the discussion forum (or I can just have the reply and place it on the discussion forum, where Glen posted the questions)?
Thanks,
Earon
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: CPU now
Author: Glen McDaniel

Glen:
Quite an interesting development. I am of course heartened and encouraged by
any movemney forward for CPU. Like Glenn Donnelly, I have a queasy feeling
also and I am not sure why except that there have been so many empty
promises in the past. I have questions:

Les Comments:
My Personal Comment From Heart and Mind
First of all, I was not President in the past and the so-called empty promises were not made on my watch. I will take responsibility for decisions ("the good, the bad, and the ugly") that I make as President, on my watch, since Dec. 1, 2000. However, in fairness to the prior administration, the reality is that CPU was heading in the right direction and a gross, blatant injustice was done to CPU. I know this to be true. When the so-called objective State review team that last visited CPU, and was the team that failed CPU for the first time in 17 years, did their evaluation in less than two days and no member of the team met with the Chief Academic Officer and two of the Deans (the Black deans and criticized the Black dean's Ph.D.'s from first-rate foreign universities-because the Ph.D.'s were not from accredited universities-and accreditation as a term does not exist in the countries, for example Wales ). I know this to be true since I was the Chief Academic Officer at that time.

Glen's Question #1:
1. Is the entire CPU organization changing names or will there be 2 separate
entities CPU in CA and CCU in MT. If so, what is the advantage of doing that?

Les Comments:
Answer: There are two legally separate Corporations, namely, CPU-in California and CPU-MT which has legally changed its name to Columbia Commonwealth University. CPU-CA has but one mission, that is to continue the legal case with a runaway bureaucratic division of the CA government right up to the supreme court and, hopefully, eventually win. Additionally, individual CPU alumni have approached me to organize a class action suit of CPU alumni versus this same bureaucratic division. CPU-CA grants no degrees, offers no academic programs, has no staff, but does have the single above mission. CPU-MT, Columbia Commonwealth University is a proactive expression of the original mission and traditions of the founding of CPU. It was impossible to go foward in a proacative model while at the same time fighting a legal battle. CPU was not prepared to move on two fronts-legally and academically in a proactive manner.

Glen's Question #2:
2. Does CCU intend to gain Commonwealth recognition eg member of Assn of
Commonwealth Universities ? Does recognition by Malawi guarantee such
membership? What if other Commonwealth universities question the quality of
work at CCU?

Les Comments:
Answer: Absolutely and unequivocally, CCU does intend to get Association recognition and be a card carrying member of the Associaton of Commonwealth Universities. CCU is currently exploring affiliations and roots with educational institutions in Malawi and the establishment of a Distance Education Center in Malawi. Once this arrangement is concluded in the next few weeks, CCU will make application from a base of strength. CCU has nothing to hide and can measure up to academic standards. CCU just went through an extensive evaluation to obtain Malawi accreditation-a very bureaucratic somewhat tiring, cross your t's and dot you i's type of evaluation-very very formal.

Glen's Question #3:
3. Can CCU even qualify to be a Commonwealth University since it is based
outside the Commonwealth?

Les Comments:
Answer. Not true! CCU is right now in the process of exploring relationships with Malawi educational institutions with the intent of establishing roots in Malawi in affiliation with an educational institution and developing a Distance Education Center right there in Malawi on the campus of the cooperating institution. This is not months away, but to be done in the very near future.

Glen's Question #3b:
Why not have a Malawi division/campus of
American-based CPU? Or will we have an American campus of a Commonwealth
university? Is that latter arrangement even realistic in terms of US
recognition and seeking regional accreditation?

Les Comments:
Answer: Actually it is quite realistic and is being researched. It may be much easier for CCU to gain NW regional accreditation CCU based in Malawi and having an American campus in Montana and the Northwest. This matter is being explored in both a speedy, cautious, and realistically factual manner.


Glen's Question #4:
4. Are we placing too high an expectation on the CCU-Malawi association?
What if the government changes? What if they de-"accredit" CPU; where does
this whole Malawi-based scheme end up?

Les Comments:
Answer: I resent the word "scheme". The government is stable and I am very much in contact with a range of Malawi officials. Obviously, the government can change. Look what CPU suffered in CA. Also, San Francisco is likely to have an earthquake. Life by its nature is chaotic and unpredictable. One must always operate in line with several plans and options. CCU as a Commonwealth country accredited university in the very near future (next few months of consolidating gains) will seek recognition, approval, and accreditation from other member Commonwealth countries. I resent the word scheme mostly because CCU will carry out a humanitarian effort as part of its mission to be involved with other educational institutions in Malawi and Africa in general in terms of participating in educational programs dealing with the AIDS epidemic in Africa (approximately 15% of the entire population of Africa has AIDS).

Glen Comments:
Maybe I am missing something, but I would like to know why not continue as
CPU, pursue regional accreditation, use the Malawi connection to increase
enrolment, gain acceptance in the Commonwealth and possibly influence the
regional accreditation agency. Seems like we are going at this backward.

Les Comments:
Answer: Yes, you are missing a very important point. An institution can not go forward in a proactive model, when it must also fight a legal battle. It is not possible to be proactive in a positive upbeat manner and fight on two fronts. Thus the legal and corporate separation of CCU and CPU-CA. Remember, the CA division of the bureaucracy have pretty much an unlimited budget and staff to conduct the war and in line with first amendment rights, any staff member of the CA bureaucracy can state anything whatever about CPU, no matter how false, and absolutely nothing can be done to stop such junk statements. I have checked that out with an attorney. However, in one recent press remark, the State attorney representing the division stated that "all you have to do to get a degree at CPU is to inhale and exhale". Is that what you did to get a CPU degree? I believe he crossed the line and I am researching this matter with the possibility of personally taking legal action.
The bottom line is I am working my ass off trying to advance the mission, traditions, and philosophy of education which I believe in, now embodied in CCU. I am especially appreciative of the efforts and hard work of the administration and staff of CCU-now expanding all over the world. Best Wishes Les

 

In my opinion, if CPU eventually receives full accreditation/recognition/approval from Malawi's Ministry of Education, the school should be seen as a legitmate and an accredited school because such accreditation/recognition meets GAAP standard. We have to remember that the history CPU is good and bad. It depends on how one wants to look at the school's history.

Ike Okonkwo

 

Hi Ike,
CPU-Montana (now CCU) does indeed have that accreditation from the government of Malawi as of late March/01. View the accreditation document: http://www.altcpualumni.org/cpumontana/dex7montana.html

However, I do not believe it is enough at this point. My last post sheds more light on the plans of CCU, right from the horse's mouth (Dr. Les Carr's answers to a CPU alum's questions). I personally think that to be accepted in the academic community much more is required:
* A Malawi-based distance education center working in cooperation with the U of Malawi (in Canada this is known as an institute that works within the umbrella of a large accepted uni - in the USA LIOS of Seattly does the same thing working under the unbrella of the RA Bastyr uni).
* Membership in Association of African Uni's
* Membership in Association of Commonwealth Uni's (Malawi is a member of ACU)
* Listed in UNESCO's handbook, and to top it off .... drum roll please ......
* Some kind of US accreditation, preferably regional.

Carr states actions toward all of above are in the works. Prospective students, in my opinion, should not make decisions on the basis of these statements. As I said before, to meet my own ethical considerations, I'm not recommending CCU until more of the above is achieved.
Earon

 

Earon, you are right. My comments were based on the assumption that CPU/CCU will be accpted by the organizations mentioned in your post once it secures Malawi government recognition/accredtation. The anticipated recognition is still not a done deal. We will see what happens next after Dr. Les Carr succeeds in getting CCU recognized by the Malawian government.

Ike Okonkwo

 

First, let me say I know nothing of the details which lead to the closing of CPU. But I have served on a visiting team California which resulted in the closure of a school.

Why would the BPPVE choose to close CPU unless they had a valid reason? Why would at least two courts agree? It appears from the outside the BPPVE is understaffed and at this time is only going after the most flagrant violators. Having served on at least 12 California review teams over the years, I know it is very difficult to close a school. It takes alot of hard evidence, not just the opinions of Bureau employees.

If CPU feels so strongly in their position, let them post the visiting team report along with the CPU response on the web. They could also post the "briefs" submitted by CPU and the BPPVE in connection with the various judicial hearings. If this information is posted, interested parties could at least have an informed discussion.

 

Let me get this straight.

A corrupt California BPPVE attacks CPU for no reason except malice. A conspiracy of district attorneys somehow gets the case and its subsequent appeals assigned to three corrupt judges that they control. And, oh yeah, they are all 'racists' besides.

I suppose that it is possible, but it seems far more likely to me that there were actually legitimate issues with CPU, that they were litigated repeatedly on the superior court and appellate level, and that CPU repeatedly lost.

Disclosure: I used to work in an SF bay area district attorney's office myself (not Marin), so I'm probably in on it too.

One thing that this does illustrate though (besides paranoia): It demonstrates why so many illegal "universities" in so many states are allowed to continue operating. This Columbia Pacific case has taken years, has reached all the way up the state appeals level, and is now in the federal courts. Shutting down a single 'university' can be a very expensive and labor-intensive litigation process. The states and localities that are expected to police these things simply don't have the time, staff and funding to do it, and in many cases they have more pressing priorities competing for their limited resources.

 

I agree. As I stated before, my opinion is just that, an opinion, and it was based mostly on my gut feeling.

Whether or not CPU/CCU "moved" is really semantics. They are doing more tap-dancing now then that guy at the end of the Lawrence Welk show.

I also really wasn't impressed by Dr. Carr's subtle hint of racism ("black Dean"). What possible relevance could the Dean's race be? It reminds me of the old joke;

Q: How do you know you've won a debate with a liberal?

A: He calls you a racist.

Bruce

 

Now that is funny!

Unfortunately in many cases true. When in doubt pull the race card.

North

 

All of the material will be posted in the next two weeks. http://www.altcpualumni.org
Earon

 

The CPPVE site visit team's report of the CPU visit (1995) states a number of failures to meet the new regulations from the Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education Reform Act passed in 1989 and implemented in 1991. The independent consultant who reviewed the findings of the CPPVE site visit and CPU reported that there were 80+ "errors of fact" in the CPPVE findings. The consultant, Dan Smith, actually was the guy who authored some of the reform act regulations. The infor will be on the website within a couple of weeks. Then you can go look for yourself...or not. http://www.altcpualumni.org
Earon

 

Bruce
The written response of the two Black Deans will also be posted on the website within two weeks. http://www.altcpualumni.org
Earon

 

Or the gay card, or the feminist card, or the class card... or whatever else that one can use. Chances are, from the experiences of the socially oppressed, cards are being used on them as well ....usually power backed up by bucks.
Earon

 

Quite true Earon. When things happen to us we look for reasons and ascribe our failures, shortcomings, unfortunate incidents, situations (etc) to our paradigm (I hate that word but used it anyway) for viewing and interpreting. I am not saying that is the situation with those African American deans as I do not know anything about that incident or their case.

This issue is why Denny's and other restaurants have had lessons for staff in how to interact and how your interaction may be perceived. I believe it was 60 minutes that did a piece on this. They had a middle aged white waitress who tended to toss plates on the counter in front of people. They then got her to look at how that might be perceived if the customer were African American. It might be perceived as unfriendly, not wanting to serve the person and disrespectful. She had not thought about it in that manner before.

Racism certainly does exist and many different experiments have demonstrated the continued fact of it's existence.

That does not change the fact that the liberal joke was funny and true in many cases.

North