SB 160, as amended below, has passed both the House and the Senate and has been sent to the Governor. It now would allow all RA schools but not DETC schools. There's still no provision for new schools. If the Governor signs the bill it will become effective on July 1st. SENATE BILL NO. 160 SD S.B. 160 VERSION: Engrossed VERSION-DATE: February 28, 2001 SYNOPSIS: FOR AN ACT ENTITLED, An Act to prohibit the offering of postsecondary education credit or degree by nonaccredited institutions. TEXT: BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA: Section 1. That chapter 13-49 be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as follows: No person or governmental entity may offer postsecondary education credit or degree in South Dakota, or while organized under the laws of South Dakota, unless currently holding accreditation from a regional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education pursuant to 20 U.S.C. Section 1099b as amended to January 1, 2001, or participating in any federal financial assistance program authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended to January 1, 2001. A violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor and subjects the violator to a civil penalty of twenty-five thousand dollars. The provisions of this section do not apply to a religious institution that offers credit or degree solely for the purpose of conferring status or authority within that religion.
1. Like anyone really wants to run an accredited school (DETC or otherwise) from South Dakota. Ugh. 2. I see the simple, yet ineffective, language allows religious schools to go unchecked. Nice. Now, how did La Salle's logic trail go? Something like "God created everything, so all degrees are religious..." It didn't work forever, but it did work for awhile. Sacramental wine and Ph.D.'s for all the bishops! Rich Douglas
I suspect the concern was that the whole law would be found unconstitutional because it restricted the freedom of religon. It may not be a perfect law but I think it will be a good law. (The speed that it was done is amazing to me.)
I second that. Besides, if anyone did want to set up a DETC school in South Dakota, I'm sure it would be easy enough to amend the law so that it includes schools accredited by recognized national agencies. To my knowledge, though, there are no DETC or ACICS accredited schools operating in SD, so it's not really relevant. Hey, it's South Dakota; if they passed a law requiring that all campuses be larger than 5x7, I would be happy. Peace, Tom
You know, I almost feel like recommending an additional NIFI criteria to Steve. If the school's in South Dakota, it's a degree mill. Almost accurate. Tom
It will be fun indeed to have a grandstand seat as we watch Trinity C&U flee the state. From their website: "Trinity College and University (Degree Consultants, Inc), a private institution, is in full compliance with all laws and regulations of the state of South Dakota, USA." They already have Ashington registered in the BVI, so I believe the odds favor Trinity following. How an island nation with a permanent population of about 19,000 can support all of these major "universities" is a wonder. ------------------ Bill Gossett
Bill Gossett writes, It will be fun indeed to have a grandstand seat as we watch Trinity C&U flee the state. Gee, if this were a real office, we could have an office pool on (a) when and (b) where for Trinity. OK, let's try. Envision a grid, with dates from March 5 onward across the top, and locations down the left: Wyoming, Montana, Alabama, British Virgin Island, St. Kitts, Other (rest of the world as a pool entry). Copy of Bears' Guide 14 (or any of the other 20 Bear books; see www.tenspeed.com) to the person who comes the closest. Entries to [email protected] (and here, too, if you wish). John Bear [email protected]
No, wait, ignore previous posting. Let's do the contest as a separate folder on degreeinfo. Thanks. John
I recall that the Trinity C&U contest was won (by Chris Frangopoulos?) though I can't find that thread (because the broken search engine). But I was trying to follow up and see where the other South Dakotan non-wonderfuls went: Adam Smith University. Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands, 100 miles north of Guam) Concordia C&U. Virgin Islands. US or UK? Rushmore U. Cayman Islands. UK. Trinity C&U. Virgin Islands. UK? Yorker International University. ?? Can anyone fill in the Yorker Int'l details (and correct any other errors)? Did I miss any? Are there unaccredited "universities" still in SD?
Concordia C&U, along with its sister school Capitol U., left the BVI for the Commonwealth of Dominica. Trinity C&U is incorporated in the BVI and also as a non-Louisiana business in Louisiana. Interestingly, TC&U kept their Sioux Falls mailbox campus and now use it as the mailing address for the school store. Yorker's web site still lists South Dakota as the home of its head office. Washington International University also has a South Dakota address. There very well may be one or two others not in compliance. The Trinity Moving Contest. ------------------ Bill Gossett
While I do agree with all of sentiments previously shared, I believe that by including participation in Title IV the national accreditors are included. South Dakota? Everyone excited now? Tony
I've watched this with interest! When South Dakota first introduced its new regulations, a year or so ago, it is more than likely that they are illegal and unconstitutional. If a new institution wants to operate, or set up in South Dakota and award degrees, it has to be regionally accredited. Now, as well we know, that's impossibloe from day one of opening - yet that is exacxtly what the SD law prescribes!. Effectively, SD has legally prevented any new institution, however credible/valid, from opening in that state. I cannot belive that this is constitutional because no new degree-granting institution can be accredited from day one!!Even I know this from the other side of the Atlantic. On the other hand, as another poster has noted, who is going to challenge this law/regulation in SD? Who wants to be in SD? This is not meant to be discourteous to people in SD! However, there is another thread here! I find this group of regular posters, mainly interested in (and getting degrees from) RA accredited and/or DETC institutions and yet, in the academic world, these RA institutions from which they are earning their degrees are not that highly regarded at all - in academia. In the Uk, most academics (and peoplke in business) will never have heard of them! Yet these same members make wild ( I think) and sweeping statements about non-RA institutions which, in my judgement, are just as good academically as these lesser known (hardly uknown many of them!) RA institutions! For me, the fact that institutions have not sought RA/DETC accreditation may be for one of many hundreds of reasons. Please don't think that, for one moment, I am getting at the institutions at which/from which you are seeking/earning your degrees - I am not. If these places meet your needs- fine! However, there is a massive flaw in the case that if an institution is any good it will go for RA and/or DETC accreditation. I completely disagree. As I look at education, as it becomes a more open market, there is a move to standardise it! This is the last thing we need! It will produce mediocrity and a lack of innovation! We are seeing this already in the UK and USA at fully' accredited' instituions! "There are more things in heaven and eath Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy". (Hamlet) I can only speak for Europe, but in every case in the last one hundred years, every country that has sought to impose some kind of national curriculum amnd/or accreditation in schoools, colleges and universities...it has failed! Education is now an international market place but, in my view, the RA system does not reflect this and is requring of US-based institutions accreditation criteria that are quite inappropriate. Here in the UK, there are institutions that should have received Privy Council approved degree-granting powers years ago (Bolton Institute is the prime example) and yet it has been overlooked in favour of other institutions which, in my view (and many others), should have been much lower down the list for consideration. The Bolton Institute is still waiting! So wel'' see where this goes - if anywhere! T
