Question for Kirkland Regarding California Coast University

Having used DETC accredited diploma courses and having also experienced a degree program I have full confidence in their process. If you want a degree that is DETC accredited you'll receive books, take difficult tests[ some proctored] and spend some hard hours studying. There's nothing easy about the method.

 

Bill, I see your point and I think it is a good one. Just wondering if the accreditation they claimed was truly bogus (non existant or within their own organization) or was it possibly defendable just not recognized. This could be an example of processes that DETC would improve in the future.

 

I will second that.

Having the benefit of being a student of both types of accredited distance colleges, I feel the DETC one in my case has been more difficult.
(just my opinion)

I know there is a huge difference between all colleges, both RA and DETC. You have to take each college on it's own merit, but there are some excellent DETC universities out there. They should not be counted out. They provide an excellent alternative to traditional education.

Mike

 

IIRC, they claimed to be accredited by WAUC which falls into the truly bogus category.

 

Using the same logic. If the past actions of ACCIS weigh negatively upon the DETC, would not the history and ownership of Northcentral University also weigh upon the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools?

 

Perhaps but I understand the difference to be that NCU convinced their RA that there was no longer any connection between SCUPS and NCU. DETC has no excuse. As I mentioned, AICS claimed bogus accreditation when they applied for accreditation all the way through to the point that DETC officially accredited them. There's no getting around it. DETC must not disapprove of that kind of dishonest marketing tactic within their little community. It hurts my image of their little community. If a region of RA did that then it would lower my opinion of them as well.

 

The assumption could be made that ACCIS convinced the DETC that connection to WAUC was ended. No SCUPS for Northcentral and no WAUC for ACCIS. I don't see that either situation reflects the best of the accreditors, nor do I see any major failing in the two. Unless you have knowledge or proof that ACCIS is substandard in some way, the decision of the DETC seems to be within acceptable behavior, as were the actions taken by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. I doubt that NU or ACCIS will ever be confused with Harvard. Both schools will most likely remain lower level accredited. I don't mean this as a knock on them, but just a statement of some limitation, and we all live with that from time to time.

The DETC disapproves of dishonest marketing and proves it by not allowing it. Show me an ad for a DETC school that gets as obnoxious and annoying as does UOP ads.

 

Perhaps you missed it when I mentioned that AICS was claiming bogus accreditation from before their application for accreditation until they replaced it with DETC accreditation. I can't imagine anyone being convinced that AICS was no longer associated with WAUC when the exact OPPOSITE was being publically claimed on their web site. The bogus accreditation claim was prominately and publically displayed on their web site. Your statement doesn't make any sense to me??????

 

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Wrong! The standard in the US is accreditation from an organization with USDOE approval and CHEA recognition!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

DaveHayden: "You are being intellectually dishonest. The standard in the US is RA. Name the top 100 universities in the country. They are ALL RA. Note: I did not say top 10, 20, nor 50, but top 100. It is clear that in the US accredited means RA."


DWCox: "Wrong! The standard in the US is accreditation from an organization with USDOE approval and CHEA recognition."


Cehi: I agree with DWCox. I have no understanding from the various USDOE information that I have read that indicated that all US accreditation meant Regional Accreditation. Thank you.

 

Only in your dreams, Dr. Cox, only in your dreams...

 

While I'm not 100% thrilled with NCU, I don't see the two situations as parallel.

WAUC is essentially an academic fraud. SCUPS is simply a 'back in the pack'-type CA-approved university.

The point of the North Central Association wanting some distance between NCU and SCUPS probably had less to do with avoiding dishonest practices than it did with ensuring that NCU had it own academics, administration and finances up and running to RA satisfaction. If an accreditor is going to accredit a school, there has to actually be a school there for it to accredit, not just a false front.

 

The normal accepted standard within the USA is RA. It is so ingrained that I bet if you took a random sample of 10,000 college students in the USA, I bet that the vast majority assume that RA is the only choice. What percentage of the college grads do you think are RA? I'd guess close to 99%.

On the other had perhaps I am misunderstanding your point? Maybe one more exclamation point might have made it clearer.

 

...might be a difference in terminology and certainly different perceptions but I think it's clear that RA is the most widely accepted and most recognized US accreditation. This is due to the standards RA upholds, as well as its historic presence i.e. time in market. However, the baseline standard for accreditation seems to be that which is recognized by the US DOE and CHEA. Anything less than this is not considered accreditation. At that point one enters other realms such as State Approved (e.g. the CA state system) then State Licensed (e.g. Century U. and lots of others) then Unregistered/Unlicensed.

 

Cehi is correct, USDOE and CHEA accredit the accreditors-DETC / RA and the many other accreditors. They do not rank one above the other. There are special accreditors for many different purposes. RA isn't all, but just a part of the picture. If you check John Bears' Guide 15th ed. you'll find a long list of accreditors listed from page 45 to 50, some having more value in their field than RA.

 

I agree. DETC is above the baseline. I am living the experience of a DETC university. I haven't experienced anything substandard in my studies yet.

DETC is recognized and legit. RA is clearly the most accepted and recognized of the two, however DETC is not substandard to RA.

Mike

 

Here at www.web-hed.com/wauc/universities.htm we can see what "universities" are so accredited by WAUC.

Mind boggling.

 

The DETC schools are not in competition with Harvard, M.I.T, or U.Cal. Berkeley, but meet the standards set by the popular DL schools well. If you want M.I.T. then you need to go there. If you want a quality DL education program, a DETC school will accomplish that. The DETC is recognized by GAAP - USDOE - CHEA, good enough!!!

 

I agree.

Additionally, They provide an alternative for students who are older and established in a career.

Most DETC students are either looking for a chance to combine their busy schedules with distance learning or upgrading their education to compliment their resume.

If you are a recent high school graduate with no work experience, then an RA university would be a much better choice. For the rest of us, DETC accredited universities recognized by CHEA and USDOE are certainly an option to be considered.

 

A couple of points:

1. I assume DETC is roughly equal RA in terms of requirements. I in no way want to suggest that DETC schools are greatly substandard to RA schools in terms of quality.

2. RA clearly is the US standard. All major US universities ARE RA. Any DETC school would, if it had the choice, switch to RA. 30 years ago DETC was strictly an accreditor of vocational schools. DETC meets the minimum requirements and is accepted by the USDOE. They have built a solid position and would like to gain as much market share as possible.

3. I know of no DETC schools that offer programs that are not also offered by RA schools.

4. There is probably no reason to choose a DETC school over an RA one for distance learning or adult education. The vast majority of both distance learning and adult education programs ARE RA!

5. DETC degrees are substandard in utility in that they have a much greater chance of not being accepted for further education or employment.