Two NA schools trying to go RA

Looks like Global University is trying to become the second DETC school to go RA after American Public/Military. They are currently a candidate.

Also, ACCSCT accredited Westwood College is anticipating a HLC visit for candidacy in May.

Both of these news items are a bit old, but I couldn't find them posted and thought some might find the news interesting.

 

Actually, that'd be the third. Western Governors University was the first.

 

What about the College for Financial Planning? Were they ever NA?

 

Global University

That is certainly good news about Global University's candidacy! I've always been impressed with G.U. They draw faculty from their own denomination, as well as professors from other denominations--some accomplished people. One of my professors from Ashland Seminary used to moonlight over there.

http://www.globaluniversity.edu/about/about.html

 

From what I recall this was discussed before, and the conclusion was Western Governors applied for RA at the same time they applied for NA, making American Public/Military the first school to actually transition from DETC to RA.

 

Vincey37 has it exactly right.

 

I like Global's course format. Eugene Bible College uses Global's study guides and course format structure. I took several courses with EBC and really liked the guides and course content. I wish Global success.

Pug

 

Global University

If Global begins to offer doctorates, they just may take some business away from Trinity (Newburgh). I think I would enjoy seeing that.

Tom

 

Update to this thread: Westwood College has been granted candidacy by the HLC (currently ACCSCT/ACICS). Global University (currently DETC) remains a candidate.

 

Yes. WGU and CFP applied for DETC along the way to RA. DETC came much earlier in both cases. But AMU operated as a DETC-accredited school for a long while, making it the first school to truly make the jump to RA.

(For years I've pointed this out--that DETC schools don't make it with RAs--even though some schools, like JIU, fit the DETC paradigm but get RA instead. It hints at a lower standard for DETC accreditation.)

I hope these other schools make it. But what if they do? What if more schools from DETC's list make it to RA? What does that say about the ones left behind? And where does it leave DETC? A second-rate accreditor? I hope not. I hope instead they choose to become the experts in accrediting DL programs and act accordingly.

 

I don't see the DETC as being a second rate accreditor...just a different kind of accreditor. DETC accredited schools have always been somewhat vocational in nature, while RA schools...for the most part...are academic or research-oriented. For example, one would go to an RA school to become a teacher, doctor, pharmacist or librarian, while a student would go to a DETC accredited school to enter the fields of sales, early childhood education, paralegal or PC maintenance. I think if the DETC is to be taken more seriously as an accreditor, it needs to begin accepting (or courting) schools which have more academic or liberal arts type of programs. The DETC has Harrison Middleton University, which offers its Great Books programs...but that's the exception, not the rule.

 

Given this thread's title, I should add for the sake of completeness that Academy of Art University in San Francisco was regionally accredited by WASC in mid 2007, after years of accreditation by ACICS.

Academy of Art University is interesting because it had already been accredited by several specialized accreditors while it was still just ACICS, including NASAD (National Association of Schools of Art and Design), FIDER (Foundation for Interior Design Education and Research), and the NAAB (National Architecture Accreditation Board). It's unusual to see an "NA" school that has professional accreditations.

 

It is apparent to all but the most hardcore NA defenders that a RA school could easily obtain DETC, but the reverse is not true. However, to the extent that is based on academics as opposed to institutional resources and scale will never be known. Those supporting DETC can always claim the latter as a reason it is not a second rate accreditor.

Ah yes. I remember reading about them but forgot about it when it came to the update. Thanks Bill.

 

Agreed on all points! I don't think DETC is second-rate, but they run the risk of becoming that.

 

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I earned my culinary degree from The Culinary Institute of America (Hyde Park NY) in 1990 which held DETC accreditation at that time. They went RA in 2004. Not sure if they kept DETC or dumped it.

 

They are not on DETC's list of accredited schools. They are accredited by the Middle States HLC (at least, the Hyde Park campus is), as well as the ACCSCT (both campuses) and the NY Board of Regents (Hyde Park).

Were they ever accredited by DETC? I don't find anything that says they were, and it's relevant because we're talking about going from DETC accreditation to RA, not NA (like ACCSCT) to RA.

 

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Sorry, you are right....not sure what I was thinking. They held only ACCSCT and later earned RA. They still have both.

 

Actually, the thread title says, "Two NA Schools Trying to Go RA," NOT "Two DETC Schools Trying to Go RA." So, ACCSCT (and ACICS) would be relevant here.

 

Actually, Westwood College is accredited by both ACCSCT and ACICS. Specifically, some of their campuses hold ACICS accreditation and others of their campuses hold ACCSCT accreditation. As it would just so happen, their Denver North campus is an ACCSCT school. Since all of their distance learning programs are run through their Denver North campus, their distance learning programs are ACCSCT.