Decision Rules - Selection A College

1. If you plan on pursuing studies in the USA, select an institution that possesses Regional Accreditation (full - not candidacy status).

2. Do not attend institutions that possess DETC accreditation only. DETC is almost synonymous with ICS (International Correspondence Schools) that offers home study degrees to anyone (send the check). They offer programs in baby-sitting and dress-making. The following was taken from the ICS web site

"DETC accredited institution specializing in career based certification programs, and Associate Degree programs for various business or technical/engineering majors."

3. If you plan on attending a foreign institution, select one that is accredited by the Ministry of Education in that country, and by extension, is listed in the International Handbook of Universities (UNESCO - International Association of Universities). This information is also included in the WHED 2000 CD-ROM (UNESCO - World Higher Education Database) which details the Education Systems of over 180 countries: http://www.unesco.org/iau/whed-2000.html

A foreign school that participates in the US Title IV program (Federal Student Loan) is your best pick, as the programs and operations of such institutions have been deemed comparable to US standards, by the US Department of Education, according to their rules and regulations.

Credential Evaluation Specialist

 

A lot of good advice, though I choked a bit on the part about not attending DETC schools. I'm not a huge fan of DETC as a whole, but they do fill a niche.

In at least one case, a DETC school is the only school with recognized accreditation that offers a graduate degree in Military Science (American Military University).

Bruce

 

Hi 'Global Evaluation', welcome. Please don't get put off by the fact that I am going to disagree with almost everything that you said.

 

Global Evaluation,
Had to comment on the DETC remarks. I've taken courses at several colleges/universities (I'm military, lots of relocation) both RA and DETC schools. The classes at American Military University comparable to 'dressmaking'? I had to laugh How about upper level and Graduate studies in areas such as Logistics, Leadership and Motivation, Public Management, security studies, etc. Hardly Sally Struthers type stuff there. You should look at the list of faculty and see where some of these guys/gals have their Phds from. Also, the degrees aren't limited to military focused areas of study. There are also degrees in Transportation Management, Management, and more. The courses I've taken from AMU are difficult and challenging. It should be expected to receive some degree of snobbery from credits/degrees earned in this manner just due to the way our society is but to perpetuate this nonsense does a diservice to allot of good people with credible academic track records. To state one's opionion is okay and American, but to say something is = something it isn't ..not good ;(. I didn't take your post personnally but I do get a little disgruntled when I think that I'll have to confront this sort of snobbery when I get out of the military to start a second career.

Have a nice day

 

I have to agree with you on almost everything you said, with two small exceptions; one opinion, one fact.

First, I believe the DETC still suffers in the academic realm from its origins, history, and continued practice of being the accreditor for vocational schools via DL. Their move to accredit academic schools and programs is a relatively recent one. Still, you make a good point that DETC now accredits some quite good schools.

Yes, standards do vary widely from country to country. But as John's research pointed out, degrees from schools that are a recognized part of their respective countries' higher educational systems are widely accepted as comparable to those from accredited schools here in the U.S. by the very people who make those decisions: admissions officials. That doesn't mean, as you point out, each of those schools has gone through a comparable evaluation system with across-the-board standards.

Second, in order for a foreign school to get an Institutional Code from the USDOE to participate in federal financial aid programs, they do go through an application and evaluation by USDOE. They literally have to "open up the books." I happened to have asked them this very question a year ago when I was considering where to go to finish the Ph.D. at you-know-where, and had noticed that a few Mexican universities had done this.

Still, sweeping generalities like the ones you counter-pointed need tend to be simple statements about complex issues. Few things get much more complicated than the acceptability and usefulness of nontraditional higher education!

Rich Douglas

 

For everyone's viewing pleasure, I'm posting the following information from the St. Kitts and Nevis portion of the UNESCO site:

So, it would appear that Berne University has 'GAAP' status. That makes its academic quality equivalent to an American regionally accredited university, I guess.

St. Kitts and Nevis also seem to be a bit of a haven for weird off-shore medical schools. So next time you are down at your low-budget HMO, don't worry be happy, it's all GAAP.

 

For many people who read this forum (and my book), the crucial question is whether a given degree will meet their personal needs.

As I reported here recently, my extensive survey of what registrars really accept showed, among much else:

DETC accreditation: 20% chose the highest level of acceptability, and 10% more the next level (on a seven point scale, from "generally acceptable" to "generally not acceptable).

St. Kittsian (and other Caribbean) accreditation: 1% found it generally acceptable, and 5% chose the next level down.

Acceptability in the business world is a whole 'nother thing, and that is what Rich Douglas will be examining in his doctoral research later this year.

John Bear www.degree.net

 

Mr. GlobalEvaluation is quite adamant about not choosing a DETC-accredited school.

How, I wonder, does he or she deal with the fact that such huge players in the DL world as the University of South Africa, the Open University, Western Governors University, and the University of Leicester have applied for (and in the latter case, been granted) DETC accreditation?

 

Dear GlobalEvaluation, I would like to thank you for your attempt at globally evaluating the whole educational system in one post. It is of course a very difficult job giving rules such as these that will satisfy the infinitely differing situations that people can be in. If you note a small amount of sarcasm in my tone, I apologize. I just find it hard to believe that you're on the level and I suspect that you are just some kind of wolf/troll attempting hide yourself in a sheepskin (pun intended).

Have a nice day,
Bill Huffman

 

I second that, Bill.

Byran

 

Bill, I too share some concerns with regard to the information. Global has made two postings (Lisbon & the Decision Rules) which could lead a consumer to believe for instance that .....Berne University would unquestionably meet peoples needs. As has been posted here before and on aed there are other factors than meeting general guidelines (ie Dept of Ed. approval in foreign country & UNESCO approval). In Berne's case it appears that for various reasons discussed in great detail before that this is not sufficent. A person from UWI told me they do not recognize Berne and this is key to at least one foreign credential evaluator I communicated with.

Things that make you go hmmmmmm!

North

 

pretty funny

 

Perhaps Global has his/her Ph.D. from Berne, or is even serving in the administration there.