Setting up your own branch classroom

Would it be overly optimistic to think the holder of an RA DL grad degree can get authorization from a school to open a branch classroom?

This is assuming, of course, that the person is in a community where the courses are needed.

Has anyone here ever tried such a project? My guess is that while you would certainly have to jump through quite a few hoops, you could still make it happen if you can justify the need.

Wishful thinking?

Over the years, I've seen a number of churches get authorization to offer classes for various schools. One that comes to mind, I think, is Berean, the Assemblies of God school.

I'm just wondering how hard this would be, provided you also have the qualifications.

Any thoughts?

Roscoe

P.S. This board sparks all kinds of ideas and questions that I believe are worth exploring. Forgive me if I'm asking too much.

 

The phenomenon of "branch classrooms" is limited to the degree mills, for the most part. An example of one that has done this successfully (to the extent that a degree mill is successful) is Vision Christian University out of California, which operates so-called branch and "satelite" campuses at churches around the country; these tend to be evangelical churches in which the pastoral staff doesn't have a clue about legitimate accreditation issues.

A few legit religious schools have offered satelite programs (the more appropriate term). Here in Pennsylvania, for example, Dallas Theological Seminary once offered its M.A. program through the then-Philadelphia College of Bible; however, PCB (which is now Philadelphia Biblical University) has since started several very successful graduate programs of its own, and DTS is no longer in the picture. Likewise, I recall that the Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS, the legit Trinity which is accredited by both North Central and ATS) once offered an M.A. program in the Pittsburgh area.

It is also not unusual for schools to have a multi-campus situation. Trinity International University, the parent of TEDS, also has a campus in California (the former Simon Greenleaf School of Law). And Reformed Theological Seminary, based in Jackson, MS (our friend Tom Head's home town), has operated a successful satelite campus for many years in Maitland, Florida, an Orlando suburb (and has based its distance programs there).

When legit schools form a satelite program or campus, they usually staff the academic end with faculty from the home campus. DTS and TEDS professors would fly into the satelite location to offer weekend courses, for example. RTS in Maitland, for example, has its own faculty (which, quite frankly, is more distinguished in reputation than the faculty at Jackson).

With an RA schools, it would be rare for a person to "get permission" to operate a course in a field location for credit at that school by approaching the school and making the suggestion. More likely, even in the secular arena, a school might be asked to provide an instructor for an authorized course; this is often done in both undergraduate and MBA programs when major companies approach a school to develop an in-house program (such as, say, AT&T holding undergrad or MBA classes at the work location foi ts employees). Likewise, many MBA programs will have satelite classes at large corporate centers in order to expand their markets. (You may, however, see less of this in the future with the increased availability of online education.)

I was not aware of Berean ffering classes elsewhere, but this does not surprise me. Keep in mind, however, that Berean is not regionally accredited. (Their sister school, the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, which has both RA and ATS, does offer satelite classes around the country, but I'm unaware of whether an M.A. degree could be earned at any one remote location.)

So, how hard would it be to open a "branch location?" Of you're talking about a degree mill, probably not too hard. If you're talking about a legit school, very difficult.
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The usual appropriate disclosure statement: I have been affiliated with three of the schools I have discussed here: I taught at then-PCB Graduate School's M.S. program in Counseling, was a consultant for the distance programs at RTS, and attended the former Simon Greenleaf School of Law for less than one semester.

 

Levicoff,

Thanks for the insight. You're right about the degree mills being popular in this approach.

You have probably noticed too, that many military bases have the satelite programs -- in the U.S. and overseas. In fact, I did quite a bit of my undergraduate (and some grad) work at the different satelites where I was stationed.

Some of the schools were: Boston University, Univ. of Maryland, City Colleges of Chicago, Embry Riddle Aero. Univ.

In the part of Pennsylvania where I used to live, Penn State, which alread has a small campus in Mont Alto, began having classes in the Chambersburg Mall.

Then there's Hagestown Community College which began offering classes in nearby towns.

When I lived in Gettysburg, I taught continuing ed classes for adults for the Harrisburg Area Community College. Apparently, Continuing Ed courses are common in this approach.

Thanks again for your reply.

Roscoe

 

Keep in mind that legit branch offerings also fall under the responsibility of the main institution. The main institution would then need to report the branch offering, or request permission to operate the branch from the accrediting agency and/or the state licensing board. In essence, some states are much more restrictive for opening branches, and some accreditors are likewise particular on an existing school 'spreading its wings' in this manner.
Regarding the military bases, most states have exceptions to their ed statutes which exempt schools from the normal licensing requirements of the state. The provisions are complex, yet, allow exceptions of some or all the statutes as long as enrollment is limited to a certain population. This is also how some corporations can provide legitamate programs to their employees.
Each state is different.

 

The University of Maryland does not have branch campuses on Military bases. The University of Maryland University College does, but the home institution is not related to UMD excepts as a fellow member of the University System of Maryland.

Boston U offers degrees through itsMetropolitan College, which is a branch extension campus of the main school, but the degrees say "MC" on it.

When will the big schools offer the same degree to all? You can already get an MBA from one or two "legit" business graduate schools of Main Campuses that do not differ from those offered to real time students. (ie. U or Florida, RPI). This is the direction the other schools need to go. What is the point is putting "MC" on a degree except to cheapen it?

 

It is not unusual for RA institutions to establish remote facilities at community colleges and at large corporations for special-needs programs. In my county, Univ. of Central Florida, Barry Univ., Webster Univ., the Univ. of Florida (in the past), and others (all RA) have set up shop to serve local earner/learners for cash cow programs such as MBAs, MA CIS, and MA Counseling, etc.

However this requires a major commitment...hiring qualified adjuncts (MA/MS in subject matter, minimum) for the courses, qualified advisors, leasing classroom space and equipment, promotion, office space, administrative costs for the main campus, including billing, oversight, and other operational services.

To say that you want to open a "remote classroom" is a bit meaningless without faculty and all the rest. There are quite a few internal realities that may not be at all visible to an outsider. For example, the program that you're interested in may already be over-subscribed. Normal economic reasoning may not apply at state universities. A state university may carry some programs at a deficit to fulfill their charter, but adding additional students (at a higher cost) may not sound too attractive to the administration.

It is not impossible, but would seem to arise from internal tides that an outsider would not likely tap at the right time. The exception would be a large corporation that can underwrite a program that they need at their site. (The economy is not so good for that, just now.)

 

"internal tides"

What a wonderful metaphor for the byzantine workings of an educational institution. One can almost hear the waves of the Bosporus sloshing past Dolmabache Palace. Cavafy would be proud...