Concerned about lost acreditation.

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by miguelstefan, Feb 28, 2005.

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  1. miguelstefan

    miguelstefan New Member

    Hello everyone,

    My name is Miguel E. Stefan Acta and I am currently enrolled in a DETC accredited MBA program.

    Browsing the DETC website I noticed that at least three (3) schools are no longer acredited. (None of which is the school I am currently enrolled in.)

    This drives me to ask the following question,

    As an avid reader of Dr. Bearś Guide, I sort of know what hapens when a school get accredited after a student has graduated or enrolled. However, I want to know what happens when a sudent is enrolled or graduated from an institution that lost itś accreditation after the fact.

    Thanks in advance,


    Miguel E. Stefan Acta
    P.S.: Please forgive any spelling mistakes as English is not my first language.
     
  2. dis.funk.sh.null

    dis.funk.sh.null New Member

    As far as I know, if a student graduates before the university loses accreditation, then they've got an accredited degree, regardless.

    However, if a student graduates even a minute after the university loses its accreditation, then the degree is not accredited...

    Did I get that right folks?
     
  3. Carlos Lorie

    Carlos Lorie New Member

    I think that is correct, however I would be concerned about the reputation of the school after lost of accreditation.
     
  4. pugbelly

    pugbelly New Member

    If the school is accredited when the student graduates then the degree is accredited, period. For example, American Christian College & Seminary recently lost its accreditation but anyone that graduated from the school prior to being stripped still has an accredited degree.

    Pug
     
  5. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    There are instances when loosing accreditation leads to closure of the school.

    This is something to consider because graduates of such schools encounter issues such as
    some licensing boards don’t accept transcripts of closed schools. I know a lady who had problems with her West Coast University transcripts.

    Also future transcripts will not have accreditation on them, so if one orders transcripts they are no longer accredited.

    Future updated listings such as one in ODA - Oregon. The list will get updated and the school may be listed as one that is no longer valid, resume viewd by potential employer who may screen, verify and find out that the school is unaccredited.
    Now how will he know that it was accredited in the past?
    Will HR conduct a research.
    Should the applicant indicate in the resume accredited at the time?

    In some states unaccredited school can’t grant degrees and have to leave the state, relocate or shut down.

    Learner
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 1, 2005
  6. Guest

    Guest Guest

    And if one is currently enrolled when accreditation is lost, provisions are made to graduate with an accredited degree nonetheless as in ACCS's "teach out" program.
     
  7. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    While it's not a good thing, you should rest assured that your degree will be considered as being awarded by an accredited school, even if the school subsequently loses its accreditation.
     
  8. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Yes. In practice, things can get murky. But you have it right.
     
  9. dis.funk.sh.null

    dis.funk.sh.null New Member

    Oh no argument there... for sure!
     
  10. Guest

    Guest Guest

    A school gaining accreditation is a good thing and although folks graduating before accreditation do not technically have accredited degrees, the reality is that in most cases they benefit because the school is accredited.

    Now, in a subject so near and dear to my heart...schools that lose accreditation. In general, yes you get messed over if your school loses accreditation prior to graduating. You could have completed 99% of your credits there and whamo graduate with an unaccredited degree.

    However, apparently not in all cases. Don't know how wide spread it is but in the case of ACCS, thanks to the good will of the accrediting agency, the dept of education, and the dedication of faculty & staff at the school....ACCS has a teach out agreement for certain students that are allowed to finish up with the school and still end up with an accredited degree. I believe I have heard of teach out's before, especially with schools that are closing. Nonetheless, to qualify you must be 75% through your program and be completely done by May 05 (no extensions are allowed). If you meet all of the requiremetns you can graduate with an accredited degree. However, if you try to finish up on June 1st............not only no accredited degree but no degree.

    And, I have said this before but I am thankful for ACCS faculty and staff dedication. I was surprised and pleased to note that there was no short cutting in academic standards during the teach out. Still had to do a quality ARP (around 200 pages required), was still scrutinized during an oral defense, etc.

    Frankly, I have had my share of problems with ACCS but the amazing & gracious behavior of Hillsdale Baptist and the staff at ACCS has floored me. The accreditor and dept of ed could have mandated a teach out but without the ACCS staff willing to work for next to nothing and Hillsdale college giving them a building to use, none of that would have been possible.

    Now, that is not to say life will be without problems. Any time a school loses accreditation or closes, you are always left explaining what happened. Humbling experience.

    North
     
  11. miguelstefan

    miguelstefan New Member

    Thanks for your very informative responses.

    Now, to be on the safe side, one must graduate before the school loses acreditation (worse case scenario) in order to have an accredited degree.

    If a school is not up for review until 2007 by the accreditor, then one needs not to be concerned with the school losing accreditation until that date? In other words, a school can not lose itś accreditation until itś next review date or can it be withdrawn at any given time by the accreditor?

    Thanks!
     
  12. Mary A

    Mary A Member

    Technically that is correct. However, if a school starts having problems that result in a lot of complaints to the accreditor that do not get resolved I would guess (GUESS) that if the accreditor went in and found things in a mess and the school did not or could not clean things up then it is possible accreditation could be terminated before then. However, I believe the school will always have a chance to fix the problems before accreditation would be removed.

    With a 2007 visit and assuming you are having a good experience with your program to date I think you can safely assume you will graduate from an accredited institution.

    Mary A
     
  13. Guest

    Guest Guest

    I believe most of the time it is due to the review that situations are caught. However, one has to remember that it is more than academics that can do a school in. Administrative problems that result in a failure to follow the accreditors policies or your own procedures as outlined can result in probation. Financial problems can also and *have* put schools on probation with their Regional accreditors.

    North
     
  14. ashton

    ashton New Member

    Not all transcripts from accredited colleges have accreditation statements on them. For example, I have one from Castleton State College that has an accreditation statement, and one from the University of Vermont that does not. Both are regionally accredited and have been for a long time.
     

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