The Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs - US Department of Education

The Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs - US Department of Education

https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home

 

I like the attention to detail! For example, Name/Address History:

Excelsior College

Name Change

08/01/1984University of the State of New York Regents External Degree Program, Regents College Degrees
01/01/2001Regents College of the University of the State of New York

 

My three degrees from Regents (issued in 1979, 1980, and 1981, respectively) do not mention "Regents External Degree." They are issued by the University of the State of New York.

 

Anyone who graduates a New York public high school is issued a diploma that says "approved by The University of the State of New York". If you study the history of the University of the State of New York established in 1784, it was established as an "accrediting and chartering body" and not a brick and mortar university.

You stated your degrees were issued in 1979, 1980 and 1981. The database says the school underwent a name change in 1984 and 2001. What was the name from 1784 to 1984? The University of the State of New York? Perhaps you should write them a letter for clarification?

In any case, I would personally use the most current name of the school on a resume or job application to avoid confusion. BTW, that's impressive the school allowed you to earn three degrees.

 

"Perhaps you should write them a letter for clarification?"

No. I'm clear. The degrees were granted by the New York Regents themselves, which go by the moniker "The University of the State of New York." The program back then was called the Regents External Degree Program, but the degrees were not issued under that title; they were issued by USNY.

When the Regents decided to get out of the business of directly awarding degrees, they privatized the school. They allowed this new, free-standing school to call itself "Regents College" for three years, with the understanding they would change it again and remove "Regents" from the name. They chose "Excelsior," the state motto. Some hate it, some like it. I like it, but always thought it would have been nice to remain Regents College.

No, I would never list my degrees as coming from Excelsior. They did not. If I was at all concerned about confusion--and I most certainly am not--I would list them as coming from "The University of the State of New York (now Excelsior College)." (I cannot imagine anyone, anywhere, anymore, making any decision about me on the basis of those degrees.)

As for the three degrees (an AA, BA, and BS), nothing remarkable there. I just followed the rules. Starting with zero credits, I did the AA in 8 weeks, the BS in 18 months, and the BA a few months after that. All while serving in the Air Force and completed before my 21st birthday. But that was a very long time ago.

 

That's incredible! It took me four years to earn a High School diploma with the University of the State of New York printed on it and numerous years in the SUNY system for higher degrees.

 

and I'll add, all while accumulating a large amount of debt. New York bastards!

 

I think on the programmatic accreditation this database lists only Accreditation agencies that are listed with the Department of Education.
Some programmatic accreditors choose not to be listed by DOE, but only to be listed by CHEA.
ABET is one such agency.
So when I'm reviewing a listing it may be missing the CHEA only listed accreditors.

Another nice feature is that info available about schools that are no longer in business but at one point were accredited etc.
Their presence is no longer comes up during searches on Google etc but they are listed here.

For example, a small college called "Lebanon College"
Loss of Accreditation - Voluntary Withdrawal12/31/2014 Institution closed.

Or
Mount Washington College

etc

 

"Some programmatic accreditors choose not to be listed by DOE, but only to be listed by CHEA. ABET is one such agency."

Maybe. A while back the Department decided to recognize only those accreditors whose accreditation led to Title IV eligibility. This de-listed quite a few accrediting agencies. (I think I have that right.)