HLC Recent Actions

I am addicted to reading the HLC monthly updates. So, I decided to start a thread on its monthly updates, related specifically to online/hybrid programs.

July 2020 Actions

I think the American College of Education should change its name. In recent years, it has strayed from education to offer healthcare, business/leadership, and nursing degrees. However, it recently failed in its bid to further diversify its offerings.

Denial of Request for Change

American College of Education, Indianapolis, IN

• Denied the institution’s request to offer the Master of Business Administration in Social Impact.
• Denied the institution’s request to offer the Master of Science in Data Analytics.

Approval of Request for Change

Missouri State University, Springfield, MO

• Approved the institution’s request to offer the Doctorate of Defense and Strategic Studies.

Doctor of Defense and Strategic Studies (DDSS)
This program operates in Fairfax, Virginia, and is certified by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).

https://graduate.missouristate.edu/Catalog/prog-doctorate-defense-and-strategic-studies.htm

The above link does not provide much info in terms of delivery. However, a related news article provides further insights.

Missouri State Doctor of Defense and Strategic Studies program accredited
https://news.missouristate.edu/2020/08/18/doctorate-program-accredited/

[Dr. John] Rose said the program will allow part-time, and seated or online, enrollment. Additionally, it will not require a residency, further enabling working professionals to achieve a doctoral degree at their own pace.

The degree program requires a written doctoral capstone project.

Rose and other DSS colleagues will begin a pilot program in Virginia this fall. It will involve six to 10 students.

“The pilot program will allow DSS to ensure it has all procedures and processes adequately in place for a larger cohort of doctoral students to enter the program for the spring 2021 semester,” Rose said.

Rose said over 100 students in the past year have expressed interest in applying to the doctoral program.

Approval of Request for Change

Concordia University, Mequon, WI

• Approved the institution’s request to offer the Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) and approved the institution’s request to remove the limitation to its doctoral program offerings in its HLC stipulation.

https://www.cuw.edu/academics/programs/business-administration-doctorate/index.html#overview

This DBA will primarily be an online program with minor residency requirements. Courses were designed in collaboration with the School of Education in an eight-week format for students who already possess an MBA or a Master in Organizational Leadership degree, especially organizational managers seeking to advance their careers by developing an ability for advanced critical reasoning.

Sixteen new online courses had to be developed for the doctorate, which is expected to be launched in the United States July 2021, but the application is now open. This first co-hort will fill fast, secure your spot today!

 

There a so many DBA are floating around the Internet. I think they need to focus more into IT Professional Doctorate for Consulting.

 

September 2020 Actions

https://www.hlcommission.org/Student-Resources/september-2020-actions.html

University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO

• 
  
  
  • Approved the institution’s request to offer the Doctor of Business Administration with Cybersecurity Management Emphasis.

Executive DBA - Cybersecurity Management (AACSB Accredited Business School)

The EDBA Cyber program is designed for working professionals who have a minimum of 5 years of managerial or consultative experience in cybersecurity, Information systems, IT, or a related field. The EDBA-Cyber is a 3.5 year, part-time program.

The program is delivered in an executive format. All courses are online except for the limited residency cohorts which will meet on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, three times per semester. Enrolled out-of-state students will be provided with travel stipends to help offset the costs of travel to Colorado Springs.

Tuition: $1,060 (in state) x 60 = 63,600; $1,437 (out of state) x 60 = 86,220

https://business.uccs.edu/programs/executive-doctor-business-administration

 

Their offerings still appear pretty heavily skewed toward teachers. The nursing degree is an RN to MSN and they have an MHA.

Of course, they historically didn't offer bachelors degrees and I cannot imagine they would have much success offering an online bachelors in education but there the offers expand to business and health care admin as the only two degrees.

I think it's a dumb name even when they only offer degrees for teachers.

Just name it after a person or place and you're generally good to go.

 

October 2020 Actions

https://www.hlcommission.org/Student-Resources/october-2020-actions.html

Denial of Request for Change

Allen College, Waterloo, IA

• Denied the institution’s request to reduce the number of credit hours for the Doctor of Education in Health Professions program from 60 credit hours to 46 credit hours and eliminate the requirement for a dissertation.

Someone wanted to water down the Ed.D. program.

Approval of Request for Change

College of Saint Scholastica, Duluth, MN

• Approved the institution’s request to offer the Doctorate in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.).

 

Also known as a Masters degree.

 

Yeah that is a ridiculous proposed change. Imagine having done a thesis and then finding out your program was changed after you left and it's still a doctorate but you don't need to write a dissertation. Even PsyD and other very-applied programs require the production of some kind of journal-quality capstone.

I'm really surprised the graduate outcomes include "Evaluate, synthesize, utilize and disseminate the scholarship related to discovery, integration, application, and teaching to further knowledge and competencies of the health science and nursing education professions" but not produce or write or generate scholarship.

 

Well... maybe those grads get to do a blog or a DVD. Or a standup routine...

 

Did not see the University of Arkansas eVersity to the University of Arkansas Global Campus.

 

Is that really $175 a credit hour, as in 120 credits for $21,000? That would be an extremely cheap Bachelor's. What's the catch?

 

Where did you see $175? I've seen from $253 for BA in Communications to $299 for BS in Nursing to $334 for BSBA in Accounting.

 

https://eversity.edu/cost/tuition

 

Okay. I was looking at University of Arkansas Global Campus. eVersity is accredited by DEAC.

 

That explains it. Many NA degrees are right around that same number (Aspen and California Cost @ $150, Bottega at ~$167, etc.)

 

It's funny that even though ED no longer distinguishes between RA and NA, I guess those of us who were already familiar with the distinction will always subconsciously make that distinction.

 

That's good. If the schools-formerly-known-as-NA raise their prices to anything approaching those of the um-other schools, perhaps people will consciously (and emphatically) tell them off. Might somewhat inhibit a cash-grab, if such a -ahem, remote prospect were to occur.

 

A reasonable inference, but not a rock-solid one. One would have to examine the learning outcomes of the previous and proposed programs to have a better understanding of the delta.

 

The Department of Education may not--but their role in this is minor. Many (most?) RA schools maintain this distinction, as does CHEA, and as do many employers. The USDoE can say anything it wants to say, but it is the marketplace that makes the distinctions that matter.

 

Does it tend to be bigger employers requiring RA? I've personally never run into the distinction outside of applying for higher education. The few times I have seen accreditation mentioned in terms of job descriptions, hiring or employment at all, it's been that the degree/school be accredited by a "CHEA recognized" accreditor, which of course DEAC and other NA accreditors are.