New Offer At Andrew Jackson University

Hey Guys, me again. This is one of the most active distance ed forums on the web, so I wanted to get your opinions on our combining The Sponsored Tuition Program with the American Opportunity Tax Credit.

First of all, to learn more about The Sponsored Tuition Program, visit www.sponsoredtuition.com - there you will learn about how graduate students can attend AJU for as little as $400 per semester (plus books and $30 per course proctoring fees).

The exciting new development to this program is the American Opportunity Tax Credit. Through tax credits from the US Government, all U.S. citizens can cover virtually all expenses associated with attending AJU. To learn more about the American Opportunity Tax Credit, consult your tax professional, or visit http://www.aju.edu/aotc.asp (you can also watch AJU President Don Kassner talk about the two programs here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ntIHTTEnA0 )

Just thought I would share this exciting opportunity with the degreeinfo community. Does anyone have any questions or thoughts?

 

Sounds like a winner to me.

You guys seem to have a good thing going, do you have any plans to pursue RA accreditation? If you had free or nearly free tuition and RA accreditation, you would have to fight off potential students lest you be overrun.

 

Sounds like a good deal!

 

Fantastic. $400 a semester is a great deal. If only AJU offered a doctoral program . What other programs will AJU offer in the future? Is there a DBA program in the works?

 

Thanks for the feedback guys. In terms of a DBA program, I have heard it discussed around the university as something we might develop, but at this time, there are no plans to launch DBA program. Have you taken a look at all of the graduate degree programs we offer?

As for the RA questions, our President, Don Kassner, blogged about that question recently ( http://takeeducationanywhere.com/2009/03/14/comparing-detc-to-the-regionals.aspx ) . The short answer is that we believe that The Distance Education and Training Council is the gold standard in accreditation for distance ed schools. All schools that have programs over the internet should seek The DETC's guidance. Furthermore, we are based in Birmingham, Alabama, and that puts us in the SACS Region. SACS is currently not equipped to review programs that are strictly online.

Each year, AJU awards an "outstanding graduate" medal to a deserving alum who has excelled in their career after completing a degree program at AJU. These high-achievers are proof of what we already knew: AJU degrees are an affordable, convenient way to take your career to the next level.

 

I have to question your statement about SACS being that I live in North Carolina and they have created an entire distance education catalog of programs from the 16 state supported institutions that are SACS accredited and all there is now an entire North Carolina Virtual Public Schools organization that offers online courses to high school students for free in NC and they are also SACS accredited.

The NC Community Colleges also have a virtual learning community that has degrees 100 percent online.

NC Virtual Public Schools:
http://www.ncvps.org/

University of North Carolina Distance Education Campus:
http://www.northcarolina.edu/content.php/aa/distance/index.htm

NC Virtual Learning Community Colleges:
http://vlc.nccommunitycolleges.edu/students/

 

Hi J - I would only want to point out to our members that the American Opportunity Tax Credit does not apply soley to those attending AJU. It's not really a new development to the program, it's a new tax law that applies to the entire country. If I'm incorrect in this matter I trust that our members will provide better info.

If I can be a tiny bit edgy here J, it seems that you're spinning this deal to try to make it look like it's just about your school. It's not. Sorry if I've misinterpreted your posting(s). I've been accused of such recently.

 

www.sreb.org

Lots of SACS accredited schools with online programs. I'm not trying to be argumentative but did you mean a "school" that is strictly online. I can agree that SACS has not accredited any DL only school but they certainly have reviewed and blessed a significant number of programs that are DL.

 

This is so cute. SACS can't do their job and THAT'S the reason why AJU is only DETC accredited. Hey J! Is it OK if I pass this on the Regional Accreditor for your area?

 

On the contrary, SACS accredited schools are very much involved in distance education. SACS accredited universities and colleges offer many programs that are fully online. The University of Florida is a wonderful example. Not to mention regionally accredited institutions in the state of texas, north carolina, and other florida universities and colleges.

"SACS is currently not equipped to review programs that are strictly online."
Having worked for a department that is heavily involved in distance education and programmatic accreditation compliance, I strongly disagree.

If SACS is not equipped to review programs that are strictly online, then perhaps they should not allow accredited institutions to offer distance learning programs online. So I disagree with your claim entirely. On the contrary, regionally and nationally accredited schools and organizations that accredit them can certainly learn from one another. There is always room for improvement. In my humble opinion and based on experience, I believe that RA is at the forefront of distance learning and online education. Certainly, there is no reason why DETC can not be at the forefront as well.

http://www.distancelearning.ufl.edu/degrees.aspx

http://www.electroniccampus.org/student/scripts/search/quickpsearch.asp?Term=16&TermName=Fall+2009

 

"SACS is currently not equipped to review programs that are strictly online."

I have a feeling J meant totally on-line universities.

Are there any totally on-line SACS institutions?

I recall that WASC has no totally on-line institutions.

 

Agreed.

Abner

 

You may be right. J may have made a small mistake. But even if you're right, I don't know why SACS might be incapable of evaluating a totally online school. Even if there are no totally online SACS institutions, it would be a mistake to conclude that they don't exist because SACS is incapable of evaluating them.

 

I'm sure they (AJU) couldn't care less. The president of the school has already made it clear that they have no plans to seek RA at any point.

 

SACS has historically not shown much openness toward 100% DL-based programs. But to paint DETC as the gold standard for anything? That almost sounds like millspeak.

AJU sounds like a good program, but I'd have a really hard time believing that ANY program can say with a straight face that they are DETC accredited because they feel it's better than regional accreditation. Yes, DETC has made strides toward getting its degrees and schools more recognized, and yes, SACS seems a little Luddite-like in their refusal to explore accrediting 100% DL schools, but I'd prefer a little less spin and a little more honesty.

 

Not!

TUIU?

 

... then get ACE review then for credit reccomendations., Those transfer to most places, until then you'll always be #2 in my consideration for DETC online schools (since you are cheap), but I am a PFC student, and not there, because you are essentially untransferable, and they have ACE approved recommendations.

 

Apologies... What I meant was that SACS has no process in place that we are aware of that considers 100% DL institutions. I realize my use of the word "equipped" sounded like a slight to SACS , and that was not my intention. We have a TREMENDOUS amount of respect for SACS and all accrediting institutions approved by the US Department of Education. What I meant was that there is currently no process in place for us to open up the discussion with SACS and that we are very proud of our accreditation from the DETC.

SACS and WASC accrediting standards have been developed over the years to review traditional brick and mortar schools. These standards include aspects of student and faculty life and a review of campus based activities – including research.

Wholly online institutions typically can not meet these standards because they do not engage in those activities and it is unclear how SACS & WASC can make the transition – we are unaware of standards that they have in development that would enable them to accredit institutions like Andrew Jackson University (as of today, we are not aware of any wholly online institutions that have been accredited by either association -If you know of one, please let us know, because we’d like to investigate it)

The most progressive regional accrediting association is the Higher Learning Commission (North Central) and they have been able to make the adjustment to 100% online schools.

Things to consider about DETC

1.) The Executive Director of SACS attended the DETC 2008 annual meetingand praised the DETC for its work in distance education. She (Dr. BelleWheelan) affirmed in that meeting that she had no plans to change the direction of SACS in this area and was proud of the traditions that SACS has in place.
2.) The DETC reports that many of the staff at the six regional accrediting associations have taken DETC evaluator training courses that are hosted by DETC.
3.) DETC uses subject matter evaluators from regionally accredited schools to review their member schools curriculum – so in the area of curriculum, the DETC is on par with the regions (same evaluators)

 

Chip, I am sure you meant nothing by it, but I would encourage you to never use the four letter M word (m-i-l-l) in reference to any accredited institution. Casual references like that can be misleading to people, and it discredits a decade and a half of hard work by our faculty, staff, and students. It also discredits the US Dept of Ed and the DETC, who both support AJU's standing in the higher learning industry.

Again, I'm sure you meant nothing by it

 

Chip was not suggesting that AJU is a mill... He was simply pointing out that when you portray DETC as a "gold standard" accreditation, you sound like those at mills that use terms like "gold standard" for their made up accreditations...

Simply stating that the DETC is fully-accredited by the US Department of Education would probably have been more appropriate than using the term "gold standard".

Let me give you an example of what I am talking about... the true "gold standard" for an MBA degree offered via distance education would be an RA AACSB school. There are many that fit into that category that offer 100% DE MBAs...

Please don't take any offense, I love what AJU is doing...