INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR GRADUATE STUDIES

THIS SCHOOL SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN IN AN EARLY 80 S VERSION OF DR BEARS BOOK BUT SEEMS TO HAVE DROPPED OFF THE MAP.THEY OFFER DOCS IN PSYCHOTHERAPY BUT HAVE A MILL FEELING. ANY ADVICE APPRECIATED.

 

Neither my memory nor Bear's (and Bears') Guides I have can recall such a school. Two other possibilities....

International Institute for Advanced Studies. Missouri unaccredited school operated by Alexander Niven until poor health weakened him. Bear took over the school, changed the name to Greenwich University, then operated it for a while before selling his interest in it. Now located on Norfolk Island and a magnet for discussion.

International Graduate School. Originally affiliated with the then-RA World University in Puerto Rico. A candidate for RA, this school also operated in Missouri. It lost its candidacy in '87 and closed shortly thereafter. (The last time a DL school has received candidacy and did not go on to accredited status.) IGS was one of the three schools I considered seriously when I entered doctoral study (Fielding and Union were the other two.)

Perhaps there is some other school by that name that I have failed to recall?

Rich Douglas

 

From the number of 'hits' that a Google search just found, this place would seem to be connected to Armstrong's Worldwide Church of God. For instance, one quote from a rather charming (in a Levicoffian way) site (http://ejm.tripod.com/email40.htm ): "My experience and credentials extend from that of Anglican Ministry into the Pentecostal Ministry to a Ph.D of Theology with The International Institute of Graduate Studies."

 

Rich Douglas writes, regarding the irrelevant-to-this-thread International Institute for Advanced Studies, "Bear took over the school, changed the name to Greenwich University, then operated it for a while before selling his interest in it. "

1. Didn't change the name. The IIAS (founded 1972, incorporated 1973) remained (during my 17 months anyway) a separate non-profit Missouri corporation. Greenwich was incorporated in Hawaii as a for-profit corporation on 2/2/90. During my involvement, the two enterprises ran side by side (literally and figuratively).

2. Didn't sell. Gave. And was reimbursed for some out-of-pocket expenses, nothing more.

 

I just went to a meeting where I came away with one less pair of shoes!

I, of course, was not privy to the inner workings of either Greenwich or IIAS. What I was going by was an old book I have lying around that says: "Greenwich evolved from the International Institute for Advanced Studies...." And: "For five years, I was the full-time president of Greenwich (and its predecessor, the International Institute)...." College Degrees by Mail,, John Bear, Ph.D., Ten Speed Press, 1993, p. 89.

BG 13 (page 215) notes that IIAS is "....a part of Greenwich."

Regarding Dr. Bear's disassociation with Greenwich, I didn't have first-hand information, and poorly recalled whatever details have been previously discussed. My bad.

What I do remember from the effort was a sincere attempt to establish a quality nontraditional graduate school. (I'm sure hampered by my otherwise inconsequential involvement.)

Rich "Shoeless Joe" Douglas

 

Rich (Joe),

I can hardly stand the thought of you walking around the greater DC area with no shoes--especially with the recent drop in temperature. A DL veteran deserves more.

Perhaps I could pass the plate among the DegreeInfo regulars and receive enough to buy you a pair of Sketchers.

Russell

 

Here is what the Greenwich site says on their "history" page:
...In 1987 Dr. John Bear, an internationally recognized authority on higher education, assumed control of the Institute. Dr. Bear recruited a team of academics from the United States, Australia, Europe and England and began the process of expanding the Institute into an international university. In 1989, the name was changed to Greenwich University. In 1990, new administrative headquarters were opened in Hawaii as a central point for the Pacific area, and the same year a representative office of the University was established in Melbourne, Australia. In 1992, Dr. Bear retired from the Presidency and Greenwich continued its growth as a distance learning university....

 

Bill reminds us:
"Here is what the Greenwich site says on their "history" page:

...In 1987 Dr. John Bear, an internationally recognized authority on higher education, assumed control of the Institute. Dr. Bear recruited a team of academics from the United States, Australia, Europe and England and began the process of expanding the Institute into an international university."

True. Founder Alexander Niven, a long-time friend, was facing open heart surgery, and other medical problems, and asked if could try to save his decent little schools -- 17 students at the time.

"In 1989, the name was changed to Greenwich University."

Greenwich was incorporated as a new entity on February 2, 1990. The International Institute remained a non-profit Missouri corporation, administered by the same four people who incorporated Greenwich. Students were given the choice of earning their degrees from IIAS or Greenwich.[?i]

In 1990, new administrative headquarters were opened in Hawaii as a central point for the Pacific area, and the same year a representative office of the University was established in Melbourne, Australia. In 1992, Dr. Bear retired from the Presidency and Greenwich continued its growth as a distance learning university....

Marina and I left Greenwich and Hawaii in July 1991. I was replaced by Dr. Stuart Johnson, who had earlier retired from UCLA to Hilo, and was author of a book I had liked and used a lot, "Toward Individualized Learning : A Developer's Guide to Self-Instruction." Last time I looked, Dr. Johnson's name did not appear anywhere in Greenwich history or archives.

 

International Graduate School. Originally affiliated with the then-RA World University in Puerto Rico. A candidate for RA, this school also operated in Missouri. It lost its candidacy in '87 and closed shortly thereafter. (The last time a DL school has received candidacy and did not go on to accredited status.) IGS was one of the three schools I considered seriously when I entered doctoral study (Fielding and Union were the other two.)

Perhaps there is some other school by that name that I have failed to recall?

Rich Douglas[/B][/QUOTE]
Rich:
Do you know why International graduate failed to gain accreditation? What happened to its students?

 

Rich:
Do you know why International graduate failed to gain accreditation? What happened to its students?[/B][/QUOTE]

I don't know the answer to either question. I would like to know, however.

Sidenote: In his travels late in life Bucky Fuller visited IGS.

Rich Douglas

 

John-

I don't belive this institution is connected with Armstrong in any way. I am (sorry to say) a graduate of one of Armstrongs outfits--Ambassador College. What can I say--I was raised in his church--and have spent my career earning more respectable credentials with your help.
(Grantham College of Engineering, Heriot-Watt MBA, and now Capella University)

Anyway--in spite of being excommunicated from this group since 1985--I still follow what's going on as more or less an obscure hobby--and never heard of this outfit.