Accreditation Question

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Migara, Apr 16, 2010.

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  1. Migara

    Migara member

    why is that DETC/NA accreditation consider to be inferior to Regional Accreditation. Come to think of it, isn't National Accreditation should be Higher than Regional Accreditation., as National Accreditor looks in to each institution with the same set eyes, where as Regional Accreditors have their own set of guidelines and each differs from one a another? Am I barking at the wrong tree here? I would have thought that National Body is much more powerful than the individual regions.

    I am sorry if this question has been discussed here before..

    Migara
     
  2. Chip

    Chip Administrator

    The search box is your friend :)

    This subject has been discussed ad nasueum and is a frequent, controversial question with people arguing strongly on either side.

    Both accreditors are recognized by the US Dept. of Education. Both have eligibility for financial aid. Both, in theory, should be equally valid. But the reality is, they are not. At least, not at present.

    DETC was originally an accreditor of mail-order trade schools (locksmithing, TV/Radio repair, that sort of thing). It subsequently added colleges and universities with undergrad degrees, and has recently started accrediting doctoral programs as well. Because of it's history accrediting trade schools and other non-academic programs, it does not have the same "cache" in the eyes of most people, and, in fact, DETC's own FAQ implies that it is more lenient in accrediting questionable or shady programs because DETC believes that such programs that have, in its eyes, shown an intent to improve themselves essentially "deserve a break." This, of course, doesn't exactly help DETC's reputation, nor does the fact that the majority of DETC schools are not academic institutions where research is being conducted and published.

    The regional accreditors, on the other hand, have historically accredited bricks-and-mortar schools, have typically held a more rigorous standard for granting accreditation than DETC has, and have never knowingly accredited shady schools, as DETC has. Moreover, it is regionally accredited schools where nearly all academic and scientific research is conducted, and nearly all academically-affiliated researchers who publish in academic and scholarly and scientific journals are at RA rather than DETC accredited schools.

    In part because of this historical difference, the regionally accredited schools have not been very willing to accept degrees or credits earned at DETC schools. Equally important, a study done some 5 or 6 years ago indicated that a large portion of employers (over 40%, if I remember Rich's research correctly) stated that they required a regionally accredited degree for positions where a degree is required. Finally, numerous professional accreditors or associations only recognize schools or graduates or schools that have regional accreditation.

    While the six regional accreditors do have some policy differences, in essence, they all act in concert, and the transferability and acceptance between different schools accredited by different regional accreditors is pretty much a non-issue.

    For all these reasons, regional accreditation is, at least for now, the "gold standard"; while there are plenty of circumstances where DETC degrees will have limitations and suffer from acceptability problems as stated above, there are virtually no such circumstances with regionally accredited degrees.

    DETC degrees are certainly serviceable and legitimate, can be less expensive, and there may be a handful of situations where a DETC school offers a program where there is simply no RA alternative. Yet outside of these two issues (cost and availability of a specific program), it is hard to make a credible argument for earning a DETC degree over an RA degree
     
  3. Migara

    Migara member

    Chip, I understand your points, but if all things are equal then isnt NA far more Superior to RA. Forget about B&M/online and research. why is that DETC schools dont carry out research as most DETC schools are offers no more than 4-6 specialized programs, compaired to B&M school that offer 20 odd programs.
     
  4. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    All things aren't equal.
     
  5. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Many times.

    In sum: There are many situations where institutional national accreditation is not acceptable. There is never a situation where national accreditation is acceptable, but regional accreditation is not.

    The term "national" is used because such agencies accredit schools located anywhere in the U.S. (and sometimes beyond). "Regional" accreditation is so named because the 6 of them arose from schools located in their respective regions.

    No hierarchy between "regional" and "national" should or can be inferred.

    Other reasons: national accreditors are very late to the practice of accrediting degree-granting schools. Also, there has been some concern over the quality of some nationally accredited schools.
     
  6. Chip

    Chip Administrator

    OK, so before you were asking a question, now you're starting with an agenda. If you are really seeking to understand, use the search function. The topic has been discussed ad nasueum, and the explanation above pretty clearly describes in shorthand form both the perceptions and the reality that's been discussed in more detail in the previous thread.

    My guess, folks, is that we have a troll here. Please do not feed.
     

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