i realize this school has a mixed history.what is the current thinking re the acceptance and quality of their programs and the potential for gaap acceptance.
What Greewich was and what it is are two entirely different entities. When John Bear took it over from Alexander Niven, it was known as the International Institute for Advanced Studies, offering master's and doctoral programs by mentor-guided independent study. John went about developing a legitimate and structured DL school. My short time with the school was spent working on developing competencies for the proposed MBA program. But I got sent overseas and John moved on. Greenwich, under its new ownership, is located on Norfolk Island. As I understand it, the government of Norfolk has given it the okay, but that doesn't quite cut it. Australian authorities have, I believe, rejected Greenwich for inclusing in their higher educational structure, the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). It is inclusion in the AQF, not approval by the somewhat autonomous Norfolk, that would meet GAAP. It seems like their approval to operate is more akin to state approval here in the U.S. Legal, but such approval does not make a school part of the U.S. higher education system (accreditation does). I wouldn't hold my breath regarding Greenwich. I have no way of assessing the quality of their programs, but a degree earned there would not seem to be a good candidate for being considered on par with those that fit GAAP. Rich Douglas
I agree with Rich, in terms of official acceptance. In terms of the work done, I've heard nothing that worries me about significant changes since the time of my full-time involvement (from the day of incorporation, 2/2/90 until my amicable departure 16 months later). Many of the adjunct faculty I hired (all with traditonal accredited doctorates) are still involved. For some students, the "I studied with" is the important thing. If you're in transpersonal psychology, for instance, being able to say "I studied with Stanley Krippner" can be an important career move, regardless of where the studying was done. The student during my era who had Henry Kissinger as his dissertation advisor has probably been dining out on that ever since. But unless the "I studied with..." is the key factor, and there is a relevant "with" available, it seems to me that Greenwich is not recommendable at all at the Bachelor's level, and only minimally (with the usual assurances of having confidence that any degree will meet current and predictable future needs) for higher degrees.
It is not accepted in the scene out here where is purports to be 'accredited'. It's degrees do not in any sense equate to any Australian degree, and do not fall with the ambit of the AQF, so if you proceed with them, fully understand this. The content of your degree may not be the issue, although they do hire US non-RA doctorates, but the acceptability of the Institution will be hte issue for some time. Norfolk Island is an external territory of Australia - it is not a part of Australia in the typical sense - compare it to a US territory somewhere on the remote Pacific - maybe Guam as compared to Hawaii. Peter French Australia
