DETC Accrediting Commission Meeting

The biannual DETC Accrediting Commission Meeting is this week. Who is going to make it? Any thoughts on the applicants? New schools and new programs, always makes me excited . Check back later for the results!

 

Looks like DETC has stepped up and updated their website. Looks much more user friendly. I like it!

As for the current applicants..I am not sure at this point who will be granted accreditation. It will be interesting however.

 

As we have learned, DETC doesn't publish the results. Eventually they add the names of the newly-accredited schools to their website, but they never announce the ones that were rejected. Maybe we can keep track here, by reprinting this list of applicants with "yes" or "no" appended. I believe this is a record number of applicants.

Accelerated Training Institute, Napa, CA
Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, Sherman Oaks, CA
American Center for Conflict Resolution, Euclid, OH
American Central University, Laramie, WY
American City University, Cheyenne, WY
American Fitness Professionals and Associates, Manahawkin, NJ
American Global University, Cheyenne, WY
Anaheim University, Anaheim, CA
BILD International University
Brigham Young University Independent Study, Provo, UT
California Miramar University (formerly Pacific Western University) San Diego, CA
Erudio College, Miami, FL
Fairmont International University (formerly Preston University), Cheyenne, WY
Florida Virtual University, Weston, FL
Halifax University, Casper, WY
Hindu University of America, Orlando, FL
Institute of Theology by Extension, Des Moines, IA
International Sports Sciences Association, Carpinteria, CA
Lion Investigation Academy, Bethlehem, PA
Perelandra College, LaMesa, CA
Real Estate Prepatory Schools, Inc., Sacramento, CA
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
Teacher Education University, Winter Park, FL
University of Atlanta, Mobile, AL
University of Philosophical Research, Los Angeles, CA
Vision International University, Ramona, CA
Yorktown University, Inc., Denver, CO

 

I scratch my head wondering what some of these folks were thinking when they came up with their names. Here is a guarantee, any school with "virtual" as a part of its official name has about as much chance at winning over wide-spread perception of legitimacy as I do winning the pole vault in the next Olympics.

 

The head-scratching can continue, as we wonder about the University of Atlanta (formerly Barrington) located in Alabama, and Halifax University located in Wyoming.

 

More head scratchers

They aren't DETC applicants, but I nonetheless nominate Atlantic International University (which is located, as you might expect, in Honolulu), and Southern Pacific University (which is located, as you might expect, in St. Kitts).

 

DETC does publish the names of schools that have been denied accreditation. Many schools withdraw from the process. This is not reported. But if the Commission actually denies a schools, its in the official record and reported on the website. However, the reason for the denial is not reported.

 

Hi David,

Can you provide us with the link on the DETC website where the rejected schools are listed? I looked but was unable to find it.

Thanks,

 

Denials are reported in the "DETC News" which is posted in the free publications section of the DETC website. Each issue has a "Report from the Accrediting Commission."

However, there are currently only three issues online and there were no denials during this period of time.

Formal denials are somewhat rare but they do occur. For the past few years, DETC has required a one day Readiness Site Visit before the self-study and full site visit can be scheduled. From what I understand, this process has tended to eliminate schools that have no reasonable chance of success without the need of formal commission action.

 

SCUPS was denied by DETC in 2004 and to my knowledge has not re-applied.


http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?p=130936&highlight=SCUPS+denied#post130936

 

Dr. Bear's list is quite interesting and it would take more that a little time to work through it. However, one reference caught my eye,
Brigham Young University Independent Study
I sprinted through the site and it looked like just another collection of generic degrees offered on the internet (no offense to BYU intended, but a BA in General Studies just does not stand out).
I'm curious as to why BYU would bother with the DETC accreditation as opposed to just folding these programs into their current regional accreditation?
Maybe it's because DETC accreditation is easier to obtain (maybe a motivation with a marginal school but BYU is solid RA)
Maybe it's because DETC accreditation is beginning to mean something more than RA (I'm shocked, SHOCKED!)
Maybe something else. What could it be?

 

I was thinking of that as well Kizmet. Whatever the motivation, it is a postitive direction for DETC. Why is BYU, a solid RA school, seeking DETC accreditation? Are other major players going to follow? It definitely makes one think.

Abner

 

Well, "Report from the June 2007 Accrediting Commission Meeting" has been added to the web site, but it is not clickable.

 

And we have no winners

 

This certainly seems to suggest that zero of the 27 applicants were granted accreditation . . . but that just seems so unlikely. Brigham Young, for goodness sake.

On another matter . . . looking at the DETC site, I noted that they say that of their nine commissioners, "Four of the Commissioners are from outside the field and are considered in every sense to be representatives of the public."

Those four include:
David Stewart, retired executive with the American Council on Education
Dorothy Fenwick, retired head of CORPA (predecessor of CHEA)
Timothy Mott, associate provost, Union Institute.

I'm trying to figure out what field it is that they are 'outside.'

 

...and the fourth is a partner of a public accounting firm, a profession DETC grads aren't permitted to participate in.

 

Psy.D

No sign of any approved Psy.D courses.....yet.

How many times a year does DETC meet to consider new applicants and/or courses? Thanks!

 

The Commission meets twice a year - in June and January. No agendas are published in advance.

To respond to Dr. Bear, the agenda for any particular meeting does not include every school that has filed an application for initial accreditation. Only schools that have undergone a site visit will be voted upon. That's why some schools seem to be on the applicant list for years. Personally, I would prefer DETC to announce in advance visitation dates consistent with the policies of the ABA and some regionals.

Many, but not all, states will accept a DETC bachelor's degree in accounting as meeting the qualifying standard to sit for the CPA exam.

 

David Boyd: "Many, but not all, states will accept a DETC bachelor's degree in accounting as meeting the qualifying standard to sit for the CPA exam."

The Washington Institute, in Sandy Utah, has claimed for many years that their degrees, without recognized accreditation, are accepted for the CPA exam by more than forty states. They are one of thre three remaining schools accredited by the legitimate but unrecognized National Association of Private Nontraditional Schools and Colleges (http://www.napnsc.org), the others being the Cook Institution of Electronics and Trinity of Indiana.

 

I have looked at the requirements for dozens of states and only found ONE, California, which allows DETC degrees for the CPA exam. I guarantee a majority of states do not permit national accreditation. Here are seven I know off the top of my head that either reject DETC degrees outright or require DETC graduates to apply for special exceptions. I would be very surprised if you could name seven states that accept NA degrees.

Washington
Texas
Pennsylvania
Illinois
Florida
North Carolina
New York