Greetings to all. How informed are members of this forum in regards to Columbia Commonwealth University? There are claims that it is "accredited" by the gov't in the southern African Republic of Malawi. Les Carr, Ph.D.(Vanderbilt University), is noted as President and Dean of Faculty with home office in Missoula, Montana, and claiming a campus in Malawi, and another in Hong Kong. There is a list of core faculty with degrees from very legitimate US and world universities. A legitimate attempt at establishing a transnational university project, or a degree mill? What say you? And many thanks to all who post opinions and insights on a regular basis. A wonderful forum, in deed. Kenneth
I believe this is the old Columbia Pacific University from CA that was recently closed down by the state. You might check John Bear's web page www.degree.net for more info.
Much has already been posted on this discussion board. Do a search on Columbia Commonwealth and Columbia Pacific University. Enjoy the reading. John
Points of order: It is CPU of California. CPU was ordered closed in 1997. Degree.net isn't John's anymore. It is owned by Ten Speed Press. Rich Douglas
Rich writes, re www.degree.net: "Degree.net isn't John's anymore. It is owned by Ten Speed Press." Well it never was "mine" in the sense of ownership. Developed by International Business Education Inc. (I was a minority shareholder). Sold to Pearson's Financial Times division (I owned one share out of about 200 million). Then sold to Ten Speed Press (I own 0%). Be that as it may, there is indeed information on this situation on the opening page. In terms of the usefulness of a CCU degree, if CCU could name even one properly GAAP-accredited US, Canadian, British, or Australian university that would accept their credits or degrees, then this Malawian accreditation might have some usefulness. I have asked Dr. Carr, but no response. (President Carr, incidentally, lives in California, well over 1,000 km from the umcampus in Missoula.)
Dear Kenneth, I've recently designed a TESL master's degree program for Columbia Commonwealth University. I can't address the history of the university or the other programs it offers since I am new to CCU and not involved with any of its other offerings. However, as the program director for the TESL master's degree, I can very definitively say that this program is one in which applicants will work hard, be challenged, and I should hope, be provided with a satisfying and meaningful academic experience. -- Dr. Mary Albanese
This is slightly off-topic (okay, maybe more than slightly) but I've never had the chance to pose this question to a real, live example. What possesses people with otherwise legitimate credentials-- people with real PhDs, who should know the difference-- to clutter up their CVs with "doctorates" from places like the University of Metaphysics (of "Become a Doctor of Metaphysics, a Counselor, a Healing Practitioner, or a Minister Through All Home Study" fame?) IMHO, it's like slapping a centerfold into a Gutenberg bible. Am I missing something?
Hello Mary: I take it then that you are no longer associated with Greenwich University in Norfolk Island? Or are you working with both? In this forum, Greenwich has probably been even more controversial than CPU/CCU.
Dr. Albanese: I find it interesting that you've become affiliated with a school without knowing its history. I found it perilous to get involved with a new school; it would have been nice to have a history to draw upon. What is the source of your doctorate? I was unable to locate a dissertation by an author with your name when searching UMI's Dissertation Abstracts. Thanks! Rich Douglas, who also notes that www.contentville.com has closed.
Maybe this is the same Dr. Mary Albanese listed on the Greenwich University faculty at: http://university.edu.nf/ssc/sscfac.htm Doctorates include a Ph.D. from the University of Reading and a Msc.D. from the University of Metaphysics. John
I note from her faculty bio that she also holds a first degree black belt (listed under "other degrees," no less). No teasing her! Rich Douglas, green belt in Shorin-ryu
