Columbia Commonwealth U & Malawi??

What ever happend to the Malawi accreditation. I went to their web site and did not see any mention of it.

What is next?

North

 

Are people getting cynical about the recent African accreditations of foreign schools? Perhaps public perception was not so positive.

Maybe Wyoming licensing was more credible than Malawi "accreditation."

 

I asked Dr. Les Carr of CCWU about this matter, and I am happy to provide his response:
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Dear John;

Thanks for the question. You will remember that in an earlier email you asked me this question. My response is the same.

In terms of our major goal to achieve, NC accreditation, CCWU must by both corporately and in image, as well as in substance, American based. Therefore, it was the decision of the Deans Council, and especially Dr. Lichtenberg, who is officially our required "accreditation liasion officer" to deemphasize on our website the Malawi involvement.

We are still very involved in Malawi and have actually linked up formally with Shareworld Education Institute in Malawi and will be offering both residential and non-residential degree programs (Masters and Doctoral level) in Pastoral Counseling with emphasis in counseling folks with HIV/AIDS.

We have established CCWU facilities and staff in Shareworld.  I am not certain, very frankly, that I agree with the collective decision of our Deans, since I would prefer that we emphasize the more apostolic humanitarian mission of CCWU. So the bottom line is that Les is being practical as I have been instructed to be. We are CCWU/Wyoming, based in Wyoming, hopefully purchasing a building by the end of this month or first week of next month, and doing what we need to do to achieve accreditation-candidacy status.

Actually, I have been meaning to email you regarding another matter. Unlike some of staff, who become a bit paranoid every time, degree.com makes any reference to CCWU that can be even remotely viewed as less than positive (and emails come to me to beware that John Bear is sticking a knife in your back and CCWU), I believe that you are simply attempting to be objective and get the facts. We go back a long ways John and we have had our ups and downs; but when all is said I believe that you take great pride in being objective and informative. I really believe that! ... I would appreciate it as a favor if you could, at the least, add in that CCWU is licensed in Wyoming and planning to pursue NC accreditation.
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I am happy to oblige.

CCWU is definitely Wyoming licensed (that process has been described and commented on many times here).

And Dr. Carr assures me that CCWU is planning to pursue North Central accreditation. I have mentioned a number of times that when Dr. Carr was president of Lewis University, and later of New College in San Francisco, he guided those schools through the regional accreditation process, so it is safe to say that he knows the ropes.

Dr. Carr has also eMailed me a photograph depicting a large modern 1 or 2 story building. Along the entire length is a sign reading:
ShareWORLD Institute of Management (SIM)
and below that, another sign reading
The Open University
and below that, a long banner reading
Columbia Commonwealth University of Malawi

 

I can think of few developments in the field of DE that would please me more than seeing CCWU get regional accreditation, but I have to admit I'm skeptical (though I do like the idea of the AIDS pastoral counseling program--definitely an underserved field). Any ideas on when we might have early word...?


Cheers,

 

I agree with the idea of an AIDS/Pastoral Counseling degree concept. Interesting possibilities.

North