Washington Online Learning Institute

There is another active thread ripping WOLI at the moment. I thought I'd post the following for what it's worth:

1) WOLI is a candidate for RA, decision due in October 2006. From what I can tell, it's a go. They've alreday had their review.

2) My wife was interested in WOLI's paralegal certification (10 month course). We contacted NALA, National Association of Legal Assistants, and confirmed that WOLI's 10-month program qualifies you to sit for the CLA (Certified Legal Assistant) exam.

3) We then called Excelsior, where my wife is working toward her BA, and asked whether the courses taken at WOLI would transfer to Excelsior. This was a concern because WOLI works in clock hours, not semester hours or quarter hours, because the national paralegal certifications are tracked in this manner. Excelsior stated they would accept the credits if WOLI wrote a letter, on letterhead, a course by course recommendation that converts clock hours into semester hours.

4) In less than 24 hours we received said letter from WOLI, outlining how each of the courses in the paralegal program would convert into semester hours of credit. Their recommendations are consistent with a typical paralegal certification program at a community college.

5) We have found WOLI to be EXTREMELY helpful and responsive, especially for not yet being enrolled. I wish more colleges had WOLI's customer service skills.

6) The University of Phoenix, although itself flawed in the minds of some, myself included, has an articulation agreement with WOLI. I suspect most schools will accept WOLI's credits, particularly once full RA is earned.

I have read the section of the WOLI website pertaining to accreditation and find no deception, as some indicate. They certainly seem on the up-and-up to me based on my first hand experience with them, their RA candidacy, their credit transfer acceptance, and my confirmation with NALA.

Pug

 

I'll confess, I was unduly harsh on the other thread regarding WOLI, but only in reaction to a poster who was unduly defensive and rude. Honestly, WOLI looks like a great place to get a medical assistant or paralegal education, to me anyway. The only unresolved point that remains, in my mind, is that the WOLI website very obviously touts "accredited" programs when the institution has no accreditation as such. NALA approval? Sure. Articulation agreements with UoP? Alright. Candidacy with MSA? Yes, excellent. ALL of those things are great, but none of them support the claim on the WOLI homepage that they offer accredited programs.

Just explain that one thing to me, if you care to.

 

Re: Re: Washington Online Learning Institute

I will conceed that being accredited is not the same as being a candidate for accreditation. Perhaps this is what's irking you. That said, it's been my experience that schools will accept and recognize credit earned at "candidate" schools as they would if the institution was fully accredited. So as a practical matter, the end result is virtually the same.

Pug