Peterson's guide (book and online)

Can we consider that the schools listed in Petersons' guide (also online) are non-mill ?

thanks !

 

It's my understanding that Peterson's has listed some unaccredited schools online in recent months; you would do well to verify that any Peterson's-listed school on your short list is in fact accredited by a USDE or CHEA recognized agency, or a clearly equivalent non-U.S. authority.

Any specific school you're curious about?


Peace,

------------------
Tom Head
www.tomhead.net

 

And the inclusion of the ACI accredited Atlantic International University is a most egregious example.



------------------
Bill Gossett

 

I saw on Peterson's hp that Atlantic International University offered many subjects (in fact, in many of the subjects listed by Petersons, the only university was AIU ...).
But I just read on this forum that it is considered as a mill. :-(

I am looking for Journalism / PR / Marketing BA through distance or online learning.

thanks !

 

Upper Iowa University, http://www.uiu.edu , offers a B.S. in marketing. All of the majors you mention (with the possible exception of PR) are available through Thomas Edison State College, http://www.tesc.edu .

------------------
Bill Gossett

 

ACI (Beebe, AK) is indeed a shining example of less-than-wonderful accreditation. I always smile when I read their statement about "non-governmental accreditation."

 

Atlantic International University is definitely not the way to go if you don't want people to laugh at you and your degree. It will be a wise decision to avoid this school because it does not have recognized accreditation. Most people equate this school to diploma mill.

Ike

 

And then there is the wonderful picture of
the head of ACI and a couple of elderly ladies in front of a school or public building. They are dressed in their "Sunday go to Meetin best". I would be surprised if any of their accredited schools has a structure like that. The exception would be the Graduate Theological Foundation who are housed in the buildings owned by a Religious Order. Those look nice. Unfortunately, I think GTF went from being unaccredited to worse. Their big announcement of abandoning their long standing stance against accreditation and achieving ACI accreditation from the largest nongovernmental agnecy was enough to have me rolling on the floor.

North

 

I keep a printout of that graphic taped next to my computer. It's guaranteed to lift one's spirits. Sadly, ACI has removed the image from their pages along with the image of their facility.

------------------
Bill Gossett

 

Agreed, North! Could I suggest several possible alternatives in describing GTF's "achieving" ACI accreditation:

Purchasing
Buying

These two terms, IMO, more adequately describe the process of obtaining ACI accreditation, for they both imply the exchange of something monetary for something tangible, much like one would purchase or buy
a product at Wal-Mart.

Oops! I almost forgot the one day site visit, which includes a tour of the campus, refreshments, and the certificate of accreditation.

Russell

 

http://www.gtfeducation.com

The buildings look suspiciously nice. In fact the dome in the upper right side of the page is in Oxford England, and has nothing to do with the GTF. And the very impressive building on the left side of the page turns out to be Lindenwood, part of the convent of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, which the nuns apparently rent out to religious and corporate meetings.
http://www.poorhandmaids.com and http://www.lindenwood.org

So I guess the question is whether the GTF occupies permanent facilities there or whether they just rent meeting space occasionally. Whatever the answer, they can't really call it their campus.

Another thing that puts me off is the similarity in names between their Graduate Theological Foundation and the quite prestigious Graduate Theological Union:
http://www.gtu.edu

 

Absolutely, and they really push that Oxford thing. You can become an Oxford Foundation Fellow and they parade those venerable Oxford Dons through the pages of the GTF catalogue and newsletter. I often wondered if these guys get free air tickets and housing in the states every year or what the deal is.

Whatever neutrality I felt about GTF went out the window when they *achieved* GTF accreditation. Someone over at GTF either realizes ACI's history and the schools it accredits and does not care or is quite in accord with that OR they are pretty clueless and easily misled. Either case should be reason enough to write them off of anyone's list.

When I read that newletter outlining their accreditation I was floored. I wondered how they could be on the cover smiling about it???? Maybe they saw $$$$$ signs.

North

 

Note: Should have read ACI accreditation

 

One irony concerning GTF, is that the local hospital in my area, Alamance Regional Medical Center, offers a Doctor of Ministry program in conjunction with GTF. It is a combination of clinical and academic work, with the D.Min. awarded by GTF. I talked with the hospital chaplain, who has his D.Min. from GTF (his M.Div. is RA), and asked why the hospital would offer a non-RA D.Min. His reply was that the degree was not intended for teaching, but as a practical degree. GTF even outlines the arrangement in their catalog. I'm not sure if ARMC administration is aware of the non-accredited status or not. Since the chaplain has his D.Min. from GTF, I am sure he has been instrumental in establishing the ARMC/GTF association.

But alas, GTF's association with ACI has, IMO, produced a less credible situation than non-accredited status.

Russell