sorry to bring this place up again, I've just had a couple of questions from people about this place: I know it's now RA, but is it: California State Approved; or DETC (or any other recognition) I won't dwell on the matter, just need simple answers to let people know and the subject is closed. Cheers Dan
sorry, I mean I know it's NOT RA and is probably in the less tha wonderful catergory. One person that has asked, basically needs a degree from anyone (as long as it's not a mill), and this was one that came up. Cheers
California Coast University (CCU) is the "grand dame" of state-approved distance schools in California. Established in 1975 as California Western University (after that name had been abandoned by an accredited school), it was one of the first really big schools of its kind. At the time, California had a three-tier system. "Authorized" schools were allowed to operate without much scrutiny by the state. The schools just had to declare $50,000 in assets towards the school and submit an affidavit regarding 13 areas of operation. No inspection by the state took place. The purpose for this category was to allow new, innovative schools an opportunity to get established. However, there was no limit to how long a school could stay "Authorized" before moving up. Eventually, more than 200 schools were "Authorized," including quite a few degree mills. (How many were degree mills is a matter of taste and opinion.) CCU (changing its name after court action required it abandon Cal Western) eventually had its degree programs elevated to "Approved" status. This involved an accreditation-like approval process by state officials. At one point, the state legislation decreed that state "Approval" was, in the law's eyes, comparable to Accreditation (the third tier). But in reality this wasn't the case. While some state-approved degree programs qualified some graduates to sit for licensing examinations, that's about it. A degree from a state-approved school wasn't going to get one into UCLA, for example. California abandoned the "Authorized" category in 1989, requiring that these schools either qualify for "Approved" status or shut down. A few became approved (the state having moved from approving each degree program separately to approving entire schools), many moved to less-rigorous jurisdictions, and some did indeed shut down. CCU chugged along, already having been approved. CCU has never been accredited by a recognized accrediting agency. They were for years a member of the National Association of Private, Nontraditional Schools and Colleges. The NAPNSC was, and is, a sincere effort to start a legitimate accrediting agency for nontraditional schools. Begun by the staff of the now-defunct Western Colorado University, they've applied and been denied recognition by the US Department of Education 7 times. When it all began in the late 1970s there was good reason to go around the regional accreditors, who were very slow in recognizing nontraditional schools and programs. But those conditions do not persist--at least as much--and the need for a separate agency is not as strong. Also, there is another agency that has raised up--to some extent--the DETC. However, the DETC is shackled with the legacy--and continuing practice--of accrediting decidedly non-academic schools along with degree-granting institutions. Credits and degrees from its schools are not as transferable as those from regionally accredited schools. (Credits and degrees from schools accredited by the NAPNSC are about as acceptable--almost nil--as those from other unaccredited schools.) The CCU seems to offer a legitimate path to a usable degree--for some people. But it is widely accepted that a degree from a state-approved school will not be useful in as many situations as one from an accredited school. It is also sometimes said by some that the academic standards present in such a school may have a little more variance than one would find in an accredited program. Of course, one can find many anecdotal examples of this in accredited programs, too. A CCU degree is nothing to be ashamed about, but whether or not it will perform as you need it to, only you can decide. Simple answers: State-approved? Yes DETC? No Rich Douglas
I second Rich on all this. As unaccredited DL schools go, Cal Coast is probably the best. Peace, ------------------ Tom Head www.tomhead.net
But if any legal degree will do for this person, it is entirely possible that the $10 degree from Universal Life University will suffice. This is not a cavalier answer. There are quite a few situations, like the Ohio dead-tree-chopper-downer I describe at the start of Bears' Guide, where the degree requirement has nothing whatever to do with job performance, and a Bible school degree might suffice, at a vastly lower cost.
Speaking of which...I've always been curious John. Did the dead tree limb expert earn his degree through an RA or DETC school? Bruce
Before John reveals this (if he does), I'll venture a guess: Regents. Doubtful if it was a DETC-accredited school. DETC was the National Home Study Coucil at the time I first read the story (1980), and accredited just two schools awarding the bachelor's: Grantham and the old LaSalle Extension University (now defunct). Any other guesses? Rich Douglas
Bruce wonders, Speaking of which...I've always been curious John. Did the dead tree limb expert earn his degree through an RA or DETC school? This was the man who had been doing a good job as his city's dead tree removal expert, when a new city law required everyone at a certain level (GS-76 or whatever) to have a Bachelor's degree. This man was told that if he didn't get a degree within two years -- in any subject whatsoever -- he could no longer chop down dead trees. I appreciate Rich's wish to make a guessing game of this, but it would go on for years, because no one would ever think of the Neotarian Fellowship, a then-operating Bible school in, I think, Chicago (this is mid 1970s). It was in no way academic, but it met the rules, and did the job. (And I realize I really must change the description of this matter on page 2 from "a good bachelor's degre..." "Good" only in the sense that it did the job for this man.
Uh, yeah, the Neotarian Fellowship. That was going to be my next guess. Yeah, that's the ticket.... Rich Douglas
Not really much to add to the analysis above, delivered with encyclopedic knowledge. I studied with CCU and thought the experience worthwhile and the quality and standard very good. The emphasis often given to regional accreditation is mainly because this represents the highest possible approval recognised by the outside world, and is a measure used by future employers to judge a qualification. In my own case, I studied for my own satisfaction knowing I would never use the degree for future employment. I am probably in the minority, but for my purposes CCU was perfect. If there are any students or alumni of CCU reading this , they may be interested in joining an unofficial CCU forum at http://www.delphi.com/ccu. Regds.
