Thread: How to start a Online University ?

What does it take to start a Un-accredited (to be RA)(not a MILL) Online University in terms of money,people etc? Just curious !

It takes a lot of resources to establish a school. Facilities, faculty, programs, a highly detailed prospectus for each course, strict requirements (bylaws and procedures), working capital and cash flow abilities to fund the operation not to mention a good marketing ploy to attract students.
Diploma mills don`t have any of these requirements. They don`t require programs or academic requirements. Degrees are distributed as soon as the credit card clears the bank.

It takes an enormous amount of energy and commitment to start up a school. Only a few make it to RA.

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The biggest trick has to be to offer a serious academic program while unaccredited and yet attract enough students to get accredited.

1) Rent a broom closet in Wyoming.

2) Hire a full time empoyee (minimum wage)

3) Advertise for adjunct faculty. Hire them all on a per student basis. R/A doctorates only.

4) Develop courses. A course consists of a 2 page assignment with 3 term papers and an assigned text.

5) Obtain a Wyoming license.

6) Copy the websites of schools you like.

7) Print the fanciest 28 page catalog on the shiniest paper possible.

8) Register multiple logins from different addresses at degreeinfo and start seriously discussing the benefits of the new school. Hire RJT to shill. Do not hire the Berne guys.

9) Remember that promotion is much more important than the product.

Originally posted by Dennis Ruhl
The biggest trick has to be to offer a serious academic program while unaccredited and yet attract enough students to get accredited.

1) Rent a broom closet in Wyoming.

2) Hire a full time empoyee (minimum wage)

3) Advertise for adjunct faculty. Hire them all on a per student basis. R/A doctorates only.

4) Develop courses. A course consists of a 2 page assignment with 3 term papers and an assigned text.

5) Obtain a Wyoming license.

6) Copy the websites of schools you like.

7) Print the fanciest 28 page catalog on the shiniest paper possible.

8) Register multiple logins from different addresses at degreeinfo and start seriously discussing the benefits of the new school. Hire RJT to shill. Do not hire the Berne guys.

9) Remember that promotion is much more important than the product.

........however should a civil war break out in Wyoming, your school immediately becomes GAAP accredited and does not require CHEA or RA......and you can use the title of "doctor" as soon as the check clears the bank.

10) Start marketing in Asia.

11) Initially do not be picky about transcripts and grant generous transfer credit.

12) Do not do any degree mill stuff like life experience credit or claiming bogus accreditation.

11) If all goes well work toward accreditation in about 3-5 years.

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1. Is it possible to get a .edu before accreditation?
2. Which one of the 6 RA's easy to deal with?

Originally posted by manjuap
1. Is it possible to get a .edu before accreditation?
2. Which one of the 6 RA's easy to deal with?

1) No

2) Only the North Central Assoc. has seen fit to accredit fully distance schools. Wyoming - bingo.

Other states may also have easy licensing and be NCA but I am not sure.

Maybe you can start on a shoestring but before accreditation there would be a whole lot of requirements to meet.

A shareholder of an RA accredited distance learning school told me recently the school burned approximately $1,200,000 in cash before they were accredited. Taking into account the cash reserves required by the accrediting body, I wouldn’t attempt to start such a school with less than $2,000,000.

Originally posted by David Boyd
A shareholder of an RA accredited distance learning school told me recently the school burned approximately $1,200,000 in cash before they were accredited. Taking into account the cash reserves required by the accrediting body, I wouldn’t attempt to start such a school with less than $2,000,000.

If you want an example of a regionally accredited "cash cow" just look at UofP.

Originally posted by manjuap
1. Is it possible to get a .edu before accreditation?
2. Which one of the 6 RA's easy to deal with?

1. Yes, but it's not easy and will cost upwards of $25,000. (I know the official answer is "No" but it can be done without breaking any laws or rules.)

2. NCA is the most experienced in distance learning of the regional bodies and, from my somewhat limited experience , the easiest to deal with. Their staff, along with the DETC staff, is excellent.

.edu

Forgot - buy one from a defunct degree mill.

Then will be stuck with that name.edu

I am sure a school could change its name under grandfathering.

I am not sure if you actually have to buy the defunct school or just a the name.

Well, we're also a group of curious people, and we want to open an university, but the thing is that most "consultants" in this field "advice" for having their cut, or for a huge pile of dollars... and thats only if they see the $$$ in the middle. No one really seems interested in opening an (online) university for the purpose FREE EDUCATION (free as a free beer and free as in freedom, as we might say in IT).

We're serious and we want to get through the whole story... so that's why I would like to ask you again, what should we do to have a real university (not a diploma mill)

I guess that we could not only avoid the scams, honest help to honest people usually works for the best.

So anyone that would like to help us to start this adventure, please... help us!

ps: I could personally say that many so-called universities, with all the paperwork in the world, well... Coursera, Udacity and EdX seems (way more) more serious than them! :P

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Wow. This thread is almost 10 years old! Dennis Ruhl?

Originally Posted by gpmax

Well, we're also a group of curious people, and we want to open an university, but the thing is that most "consultants" in this field "advice" for having their cut, or for a huge pile of dollars... and thats only if they see the $$$ in the middle. No one really seems interested in opening an (online) university for the purpose FREE EDUCATION (free as a free beer and free as in freedom, as we might say in IT).

We're serious and we want to get through the whole story... so that's why I would like to ask you again, what should we do to have a real university (not a diploma mill)

I guess that we could not only avoid the scams, honest help to honest people usually works for the best.

So anyone that would like to help us to start this adventure, please... help us!

ps: I could personally say that many so-called universities, with all the paperwork in the world, well... Coursera, Udacity and EdX seems (way more) more serious than them! :P

Who is "we"?

	George Washington University George Washington University GWU offers an online Bachelor’s Degree in Police Science; and Master’s Degrees in Education and Human Development, Paralegal Studies, Public Relations, Educational Technology Lead, MBA – Healthcare, and MPS in Security and Safety Leadership. GW University is a prestigious and well regarded school. Established in the heart of the nation's capital in 1821, GW provides innovative programs in more than 200 fields of study, including graduate certificate, master's and doctoral programs. Under the guidance of a world-renowned faculty, you will explore both theory and practice in courses that prepare you to meet the needs of an increasingly complex society. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school.