AMU/APUS Moving To West Virginia

News from State Council of Higher Education, July meeting:

"APUS will be completing a move to the state of West Virginia in the near future. This will be done primarily so that the institution can pursue regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. The Institution also reconfigured its corporate structure, which, as of June 30, 2002, is
now headed by a Delaware holding company called American Public Education, Incorporated. This holding company wholly owns a West Virginia subsidiary company called American Public University System, Incorporated (APUSI). APUSI supports the American Public University of the American Public University System; American Military University of the American Public University System; and, American Community College of the American Public University System. Each system is designed to target a separate constituency such as military and former
military personnel, spouses and dependents and non-military national security organizations that have interest in non-military homeland security programs".

<http://www.schev.edu/SCHEVs/AgendaBooks/AgendaBookJul02/AgendaBookJuly02full.pdf> pg. 30


Has the North Central Association become the accreditor of choice for DL?

Any guesses on how soon APUS will achieve candidate status?

 

Very interesting. I am curious. What is the last school that made the jump from NA to RA?

Tony

Also, is this good or bad for NA supporters? I have mixed feelings but tend to take it as a bad sign.

 

I guess that it's good news and bad news.

I've always liked AMU and would very much like to see them become RA.

But it's bad news that apparently there is no chance of this happening with SACS. It's also bad news that they are moving to a more isolated location further from the centers of power in Washington DC. But presumably many of their faculty will remain there and will work remotely, I guess.

I also HATE the name "American Public University System". It is about as close as you can come to a flat-out lie, without crossing the line. Many students, particularly those overseas, will assume that AMU is a public university.

I consider it unethical and hope that they change it.

 

According to Rich Douglas (and he knows more about the history of DL than I), no school has attained RA after being strictly NA for awhile. I've pointed out the College of Financial Planning, which has both DETC and RA, but it seems they applied for both at the same time.

FWIW, I've always liked AMU, and wish them well in their quest for RA. Oh, and I also hate the APUS name.

Bruce

 

Good points. Does anyone see this as having a negative impact on NA? What I mean is having one of the best DETC schools going for RA and acknowledging by that move it is a superior accreditation. This worries me because it hasn't happened before. Or, maybe I just need to get more sleep.

Tony

 

I'm not sure it's negative. If a DETC-accredited school can get regional accreditation then that will validate the DETC accreditation (in a limited way). The "worst case scenario" is that AMU fails in its attempt to get regional accreditation, since this would be construed as an indication that DETC's standards are less rigorous.

 

Road to regional accreditation

AMU has been working toward regional accreditation for some time. The following is the headline story from AMU's Spring 1999 newsletter, "Columns":

"On March 2nd AMU received from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) their initial evaluation of our application for membership. This evaluation was the result of a 6-month review by SACS officials and identified eligibility conditions that required further clarification and documentation. AMU's plan to meet these conditions and comments was briefed to the Board of Directors at their March 5th meeting. The Board endorsed the staff's evaluation, strategy, and recommendations and approved submitting an update package to SACS on May 1st.
Our full application goes forward to the SACS Committee on Criteria and Reports for their June 22-23 meeting in Ashville, NC. The outcome of that meeting will determine the timeline for the path to candidacy and full membership. The Committee will review our application to determine if we have fully complied with their 14 condition of eligibility for membership. An AMU team will attend to make a presentation and to respond to Committee questions. We are already taking steps to meet their criteria and will move quickly to achieve candidacy and membership as soon as practical. We'll keep you informed about our progress as it unfolds."

Page 5 of the same news letter says the following about DETC Reaccreditation:

"AMU is nearing the end of the initial five-year national accreditation and is scheduled for an accreditation site visit this Fall from the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). Work is underway reviewing and updating our original application and preparing for this site visit. Much of the work for this reaccreditation effort is complementary to our regional application to SACS since both Commissions share many of the same conditions, criteria, and standards."

This was a print newsletter. I do not believe it's available online.

Here's what I think:

Clearly AMU placed (and still places) more emphasis on regional accreditation than on DETC reaccreditation.


We know, that for what ever reason, SACS never granted AMU candidate status. AMU has continued to pursue regional accreditation. AMU's goal of regional accreditation has been stated on its website, at least since I enrolled in 2000. Apparently AMU believes it will have more success with the North Central Association.


AMU is and always has been a for profit school. Obtaining DETC accreditation, as an interim measure, was and is a wise business decision. DETC accreditation allowed AMU's military students, AMU's primary target consumer, to utilized tuition assistance. I would argue, DETC accreditation allowed AMU to grow from offering just a few, military related, master's degree's to offering the plethora of programs it now available.

Regional accreditation, always a goal, may be getting a little closer. Achievement of regional accreditation will, besides improving AMU's credibility, make AMU more competitive for other programs such as Navy College Program's Distance Learning Partnership Schools.

 

I'll go you one better. I believe that it does cross the line. The only reason that I can fathom for using such a name would be to confuse people. Yes, I've heard their explanation. I'm not buying.

And I say this being a fan of American Military University. I believe that the quality is about the best that DETC has to offer and I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually do get regional accreditation.

Having said that, as long as this silly APUS thing continues, I certainly wouldn't recommend them to anyone.



Tom Nixon

 

I have an obvious bias, as a recent AMU graduate, but I do not see the "American Public University System" as being deceptive. I will, however email the school and refer the powers that be to this thread. As a graduate, I want my university to be as highly regarded as possible. I will post any reply received.

Thank you. I was consistently impressed by every one of my professors, classes, and the administrative staff. Regional accreditation will be a great achievement for the school.

I do recommend AMU of APUS. I have nothing but good things to say about my experience as an AMU student. When I do recommend AMU to a potential student, I explain that DETC accreditation is perceived by some in academia to be "second class", because, like it or not, it is. Achieving regional accreditation will be a great accomplishment.


Charles W. Fout
A.S. City University, 1988
B.A. American Military University, 2002
M.B.A. Liberty University (In progress)

 

Hello, I am curious about the move to West Virginia. I imagine there was a significant cost factor that moved them to this state. I tried to get an exact number colleges and universities that operate in WV but haven't come up with it. On our road trip through WV it seemed every exit pointed to a college. Have a good evening. Hille

 

My email inquiry and response from an APUS official:

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, July 15, 2002 2:24 PM
To: Fout, Charles
Subject: RE: MOVING TO WEST VIRGINIA/AMERICAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

Hey Charles,

Good to hear from you. I hope all is well with you.
Yes, what you read is accurate, except that it doesn't tell the whole story. Our corporate offices will be located in West Virginia. Our Student services and marketing will remain in its current location in Manassas. We will be licensed as a West Virginia institution. We will operate in the Commonwealth as an out-of-state institution.
This is the first issue I have heard about the name. I don't believe the intent was to be deceptive, I think it was simply meant to encompass everyone and not sound so limited. Evidently there is some other connotations and I thank you for bringing that to our attention. I will forward your email that contained the thread to the executive committee.
Watch the student newsletter for more details.

xxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxx
xxxxx
American Public University System
American Public University
American Military University
American Community College
website - www.apus.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: Fout, Charles
Sent: Monday, July 15, 2002 1:05 PM
To:
Subject: MOVING TO WEST VIRGINIA/AMERICAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

XXXXXXX,

How are you? I read, in the most recent SCHEV Agenda Book, that American Public University is moving to West Virginia, to facilitate becoming accredited by the North Central Association. This is great news. I wish us success.

I'm wondering if you have had much feedback on the "American Public University System" name. I participate in an Internet distance education discussion group (www.degreeinfo.com), several discussion group members have indicated that they find the use of the word "public" deceptive. I do not believe APUS/AMU has any intention of being deceptive. I have expressed my thoughts at www.degreeinfo.com. If it's appropriate, I would love to see some one from the APUS/AMU address these questions at www.degreeinfo.com.


Sincerely,

Charles W. Fout
B.A., American Military University