What's the use of DETC? Sorry my ignorance, but if the DETC accreditation is not that valued compared to the RA degrees, what is the point of DETC? Is it because their degrees are chearper, easier, or what? What use is a DETC degree useful for professionally if what rules are RA degrees?
Re: What's the use of DETC? DETC began accredited degree-granting schools at a time when the regional associations were more reluctant to do so than they are today. There has been a clear dichotomy between DETC and the regionals, with no school going from DETC accreditation to regional. (A couple of schools picked up DETC accreditation while they were pursuing regional accreditation, but none have done DETC first, then moved on to regional.) This is likely to change with American Public University System, which successfully bid for candidacy status with its regional association. Its site visit is slated for October and I wouldn't be surprised to see them get accredited. Nowadays, regional accreditation seems a lot more available to distance learning, degree-granting schools. That, and the situation I just described, makes one pause. Are DETC standards less stringent? Or is getting regional accreditation still an unfair, uphill climb for DL schools? If the best DETC-accredited schools move to RA, this gap will become more real--and more obvious. DETC needs to move pro-actively to become the nation's leader in distance learning, DL accrediting programs (not schools, programs) at otherwise classroom-based universities.
Whether you choose a NA or RA school depends largely upon your reasons for obtaining a degree and what you intend to do with that degree afterwards.
I really like Rich's post. One point I'd like to add is that DETC got it's start (and it's still a significant part of their charter) accrediting distance education that was not general education oriented but was instead more vocational oriented, e.g., drawing, locksmithing, etc.
Did anyone conducted a new survey? I think in 2005 DETC is more powerfull, more acceptable and more respected Accrediting body then ever before. in our company we have managers and Sr. managers, VP's with DETC accredited degrees, so they will not discriminate aplicants with NA degrees. RA is the the gold standard in USA. I personaly would prefer that my kids study at RA, PA school. If their choice is engineering then I'l prefer RA. ABET combo. law - RA, ABA Psychology - RA, APA MBA - RA, ABA etc.
Lerner: "Did anyone conducted a new survey?" John: Gee, I wish someone would. It would be a good thing to see what, if any, changes have happened in five years. But it won't be me. My 2000 survey cost me more than $3,000 out-of-pocket -- list rental, envelope typing, postage, etc. -- plus a considerable time in tallying results, and lots of Rich Douglas' time doing sophisticated statistical analysis.
