Union Institute & University - Accreditation On Notice

While researching DL universities on the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association web site, I noticed that Union Institute & University's accreditation status is listed as: "Current Accreditation Status: Accredited (On Notice)."

What does "Accredited (On Notice)" mean?

http://www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org/directory/?Action=ShowBasic&instid=1904

 

"On notice" doesn't imply probation. One could interpret it as warning. The relevant NCA report is here.

 

This has been the case since late last year, IIRC, and has been discussed at great length on this board.

 

I'm curious, if you graduate from a school and it loses it's accredidation afterward, does that make your once accredited degree null and void?

 

No.

 

LJinPA brings up a good point.

I realize that it doesn't matter if a school looses its accreditation AFTER you've completed your degree. However, wouldn’t your degree then carry the stigma that the school inherits as a result of loosing accreditation?

Let’s say you earn your degree from little known XYZ University. Upon completion of your degree, XYZ U is still RA, however, the next few years are not so good for XYZ U and XYZ looses its accreditation.

Now you apply for a job and your potential employer verifies XYZ U using the government school accreditation web site and discovers that XYZ is not accredited. Your potential employer simply looks at your degree as worthless and your resume gets filed in the round file.

Worse yet; if XYZ U is featured on 60 Minutes and gets a reputation as a worthless school or as a diploma mill, then your degree will be regarded as one that you simply purchased.

This is my main concern about NCU. I took a course through NCU and learned a great deal. The course was challenging but enjoyable. Say I continue with NCU and complete a PhD while NCU is still RA. I have a legitimate PhD. Now suppose the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, the RA agency that accredits NCU, changes their mind on how a PhD should be earned and decides that they will no longer accredit 100% DL PhDs. NCU would no longer be accredited to grant doctorates and my PhD becomes worthless in the eyes of the world.

Am I on the right track here or have I gone over the deep end?

 

Well I don't think I'm in any danger with Thomas Edison- one of the reasons I chose a Public State school. However, I always thought of the UNion INstitute as well respected long before I even found this forum.

 

Ummmm;

And although private accrediting institutions serve a valuable role in providing information to the public regarding the academic standards at various schools, these organizations are voluntary and can do nothing to prevent the substandard or fraudulent school from conferring a degree.

(483 A.2d 1172)

 

Re: Re: Union Institute & University - Accreditation On Notice

This is stupid. Yes, stupid.

Accreditation agencies are in that very business. By definition, "substandard or fraudulent" schools would not be accredited--these agencies set that standard.

Hello, is anybody in there?

 

Someone confusing "loose" and "lose" has more pressing educational concerns than a possible future loss of accreditation by his school.

 

True, true...

lose - to fail to keep, sustain, or maintain
loose - not tightly drawn or stretched


I can't believe that I typed that twice in the same post! I think my enthusiasm for the topic shut down that part of my brain.

 

Hey, everybod6 maks tupos. As long as you know the difference, I'm happy.
A UIU-obsessive wouldn't, most likely. Jealousy makes 'em stupid.
And, no, I've never had and never will have any connection to UIU.

 

You would still have an accredited degree. If you felt concern that the employer would not go further than looking the school up then I would put something in your resume indicating that at the time your school was accredited by SACS an agency recognized by both US Dept of Ed/CHEA.

This can happen over anything....an example....I had a staff member come to me concerned because a State University professor (in casual conversation) told her that her University of Phoenix degree was not accredited and would not be accepted by the state university. My staff member was in a panic as she had spent a lot of time and money and was still working on her degree. The idea that it was not accredited was ridiculous, and the state university would likely accept transfer credit.

My understanding is that UIU is fairly well respected as an alternative school. What happens financially with it I do not know, nor with the accreditor. But when Rich & Steve and a host of others graduated it was accredited. Were it to close they would be in no worse situation than thousands of other students whose schools close every year. They would have proof that it was accredited when they graduated.

North

 

This institution had/has a very loose system for its “doctoral” program, and they were quite bold in promoting it. Interestingly, it is a sort of family-run business. Most of the key administrators are related (through marriage, etc.), and to disguise this, some use their maiden name. They allowed tremendous latitude in designing your own (any) program, and even gave credits for reading comic books and viewing videos (cartoons), and would tack on a few more credits if you complained and threatened to leave the program. They possess neither the financial resources nor will to make the necessary changes, and it is quite likely that they will give up the PhD program to save their accreditation.

 

Really? Do you have any documentation at all to verify these bold claims?

Tony Pina
Administrator, Northeastern Illinois University

 

If they are giving you credits for reading comic books and watching cartoons, then I am not suprised their accreditation is on notice. However, I would like to see some proof or evidence backing this claim up.

 

I use to wonder if that last thing might happen, but the evidence currently points in the other direction. I would have expected this during their financial aid crisis, but that's now passed.

The rest of the poster's allegations are without any basis, and he/she provides none. That several are beyond credulity--much less actually being supported by facts--says it all.

No one has provided more factual criticism regarding Union over the past 10 years than I have; the post quoted above is silly.

 

This post reminds me of the one that put down NCU a few weeks ago. Both are unfounded, unsupported, and troll-like in appearance.

 

I apologize to those that earned their degree from UIU. The intention of this thread was not to discredit UIU, but to ask what "accreditation on notice" means.

These accusations are ludicrous unless they can be backed up with creditable evidence; otherwise, it does appear that we have a troll in our midst.

 

1. The core competence of a PhD program is research, and there were no formal courses in this area, yet, transcripts reflected that they were done.
2. The US Dept. of Education discovered extensive transcript fixing, and withheld monies from the institution for while.
3. They use to have a promotional meeting in a room rented at Columbia University, however, this arrangement has ceased as a result of their sub-standard and fraudulent practices.
4. I will not name names regarding the family-run business, but this is well known in some circles. They have also taken turns in awarding degrees to themselves. Incestuous indeed!!!!!