What stops a school from getting regionally accredited?

Something I never understood is why some of these schools don't go and get regionally accredited? I went to Penn Foster for my Electronics technician career diploma, actually just received my diploma and transcripts yesterday! Why doesn't a school like that get regionally accredited? What stops them from doing this, not a specific question about PF, just in general a lot of these schools? What stops them, does it cost a ton of money? Luckily my program is ACE reviewed, and TESC accepts the credits. I am stuck between two programs though. AAS in Electrical/mechanical systems and maintenance or ASAST in Electronics engineering technology. I have no idea which direction to go? Which has better career prospects? As you can see I am stuck.

 

Regional accreditation is a fairly expensive process. There are site reviews. There are extra records to be maintained. RA schools, even online ones, are expected to maintain some sort of library, among other requirements.

Career schools are intended to provide training for specific skillsets, and thus aren't expected to have all of the resources that an RA school might.

Five years ago, I'd have said the ASAST. Not sure now. You'd be best served by flipping through existing job requirements where you live, and picking the program that most closely matches those requirements.

 

The following document from HLC gives an overview of the process; including the costs.

https://content.springcm.com/content/DownloadDocuments.ashx?aid=5968&Selection=Document%2C2da5ee6d-fbcc-e111-bb63-0025b3af184e%3B

 

Petedude, thank you. That is where I am stuck big time. I see a just incredible amount of Maintenance mechanic jobs open, I mean TONS. I see less Electronics technician jobs, but still see some. I see more strictly Electronics engineer jobs, but those jobs you can't get with a ASAST in Electronics engineering technology I don't think? I think I would need a BSAST to even compete for a Electronics engineering job, but my ET program fits better into obviously the Electronics engineering technology program.
How hard will it be out of school with an AAS is Electrical/mechanical systems and maintenance is the BIG question I have. How can I find that out? I have emailed once or twice HR people but haven't received any replies. I emailed a Marine Electronics company and the HR guy was SUPER helpful. They hire lots of ET's, pay is nice 21 to 27 an hour, but it involved very high heights, and that is NOT for me. I more just wanted feedback on getting hired out of school with just a career diploma, and his company does sometimes. So as you see I am still confused as to which direction to go in! Its killing me!

 

What stops a school from getting regionally accredited?

Money--insufficient cash reserves to ensure financial stability.
Money--insufficient cash flow.
Money--lack of diverse incomes (too tuition-dependent and not enough other funding streams)
Poor administrative systems.
Poor quality control systems.
Poor managerial oversight.

It's almost never due to insufficient curricula or teaching. But the things the school is most likely to fail on are also the things traditional academics do the worst at. That's why schools like Capella--started by a businessman--or JIU--ditto--are successful.

Most restaurants fail, and it's not because of the quality of food. It's almost always due to business practices.

 

I think either one will help you land a job. Do you have any work experience (of any kind, volunteer or paid)? That goes a long way to help you land a job if you can be an on time and reliable worker.

There are many jobs that help maintain office, entertainment, and medical equipment; some very specialized and some entry level. Perhaps you can research companies that do this kind of work.

You could also become a draftsman with either of these two degrees (these days most CAD is used so you might consider including a CAD course in your degree.

In my area (Denver) there are often vacancies for test technicians where an AA or AST degree is appreciated.

 

Can I join in this discussion about regional accreditation of schools, and whine about the fact that I wish Greenleaf University was accredited by someone, anyone? I'd like to match them up with some financial angel so that I could transfer to their "ABD transfer" program and feel good about it. It's either that or a crystal ball so that I can figure out what topical/semantic quagmire I've stumbled into with my dissertation chair.

 

If it was a real school....

 

Thank you for the reply I appreciate it. I think you have encouraged me a bit, thank you. I'm having a tough time getting answers to some of my job prospect questions but I guess no one can answer those question, and I also guess every student has the same questions. As humans we always want definitive answers to questions there might not be. Thanks again, I actually just put in my Application to TESC for the ASAST Electronics engineering technology program.

 

Greenleaf? Are they the ones with the online master's in future studies?

 

The good news: Greenleaf University claims that it will be pursuing regional accreditation.

The bad news: according to a check of archived web pages, Greenleaf has been making the same claim since May 2007.

 

University of Houston has an online master's in future studies in commerce. They are actually a pretty well-respected school in Texas.
Master of Science in Futures Studies in Commerce

 

If they were regionally accredited they wouldn't have an ABD transfer program.

 

There's another Masters program in Future Studies that I am aware of coming out of the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. While it's offered through threir Department of Business it need not have a strictly business focus and so might be attractive to others who are not so much into that specific orientation. Also, because it's an SA degree it's going to be significantly less expensive than anything from the USA.

pgstudies - MPhil in Futures Studies

 

Penn State: online M.P.S. in Enterprise Architecture (EA)

“Enterprise architecture (EA) is the process of translating business vision and strategy into effective enterprise change by creating, communicating, and improving the key requirements, principles, and models that describe the enterprise’s future state and enable its evolution and transformation.”

Penn State | Online Master of Professional Studies in Enterprise Architecture | Overview

 

Rich is correct--it is almost always do to deficiencies in administrative and business practices. Staffing and faculty credentials also keep some schools from successfully achieving regional accreditation.