Hi All, I noticed that the school has moved to California. I contacted the school and was advised that they will be seeking DETC accreditation. http://www.wsltax.org/
Has moved to California from where? I'm unfamiliar with this school so I can't directly comment on it. But any unaccredited school that suddenly starts sporting a California address worries me these days. California currently has no effective post-secondary education laws and conditions in the state are basically anything-goes. California's quickly returning to being the degree-mill haven that it was several decades ago. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean that there's anything wrong with Washington Institute for Graduate Studies. They might just have chosen a bad time to move to California.
From their Catalog: “It should be noted that in 2002, regulatory oversight of all non-accredited proprietary schools in the State of Utah (which includes the School) was transferred from the Utah State Board of Regents to the Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Consumer Protection, which currently serves as the registering and regulatory agency for the School. Since that time, Washington Institute has successfully registered under the Utah Postsecondary Proprietary School Act (Title 13, Chapter 34, Utah Code). After moving its base of operation to California to better meet the needs of future students and faculty, the School withdrew its Utah registration application (in late 2008). In its 32 year history, the School has never sought national accreditation. However, beginning in 2008, the School will seek national accreditation through an agency endorsed by the US Department of Education. The school provides graduate studies leading to a Master’s Degree in Taxation (M.S. Tax for accountants and LL.M. Tax for lawyers), and a Doctorate Degree.” How could they be seeking DETC with a PhD Program? Has DETC changed its policy? Their California “office” looks like a fancy mail-drop. http://www.regus.com/locations/US/CA/SanDiego/CaliforniaSanDiegoUniversityTownCenter.htm?product=offices
Last I knew, Washington Institute of Graduate Studies/Washington School of Law was living in Utah, but I forget how many Bears Guides ago that was.