For Sale: Young Online University in California

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by AsianStew, Jan 10, 2022.

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  1. AsianStew

    AsianStew Moderator Staff Member

    So, I just read my email and in pops this message... I skimmed the message and it seems really interesting! A Two year old BPPE university in California with a few programs, including Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate and all for $500K USD!

    I wonder which university this is... they have a few colleges/schools for sale, didn't look at the others, some are much more expensive than this! And curious if it would be more expensive to create an university and market it... then get DEAC or RA later on...

    Link: Businesses For Sale - California | Listing onfp7e (dealstream.com)
     
  2. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Most, if not all of the remaining secular BPPE-permitted schools are under the gun. Pretty much all under accredit-or-die legislation. (I thought most of the death-row dates had come and gone by now.)

    This MIGHT (or might not) be a case of owners selling off a school with a looming death-date, knowing that it's problematic in regard to accreditation. Utmost care!
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2022
  3. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    I read the blurb. South Asian and European partner schools. Which ones? Franchised partners abroad. Most degrees - the student learns from videos and only final projects get marked by the school. Target market for students is Asia. The US outfit also earns $500 apiece for cross-validations. For these - student abroad gets a degree from his local Uni and for extra $, $500 of which goes to the US outfit, gets a second degree (no extra work) from the US school, based on their 'evaluation' of the Asian school's degree. The second degree bears an American-sounding name, which is prestigious to Asians. They don't say what the name is. All degrees are business, except for a Master's in Psych. (?) I just don't like the whole vibe.

    Also says the US school has "the right to accreditation." (I think that means it has the right to apply - they all do.) Current school officials will, for an extra fee, consult with the new owners to help make accreditation happen. (Is there a guarantee?) School is currently located in an office, can be easily moved. All this does not sound very confidence-building, to me. The more I read...
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2022
  4. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    This is likely a result of the purge of unaccredited schools being conducted by the State of California. Unaccredited schools have to be on a track to get accredited or they have to shut down. And they face deadlines for getting accredited as well.

    California has extended the drop-dead dates for some schools that have shown some progress, but it's nearly a no-win situation. WASC led some to believe they would seriously consider these schools, then returned to their old ways. DEAC is a possibility for some, but most of these schools do not fit DEAC's course-in-a-box methodology. (Yes, online, but the spirit remains.) That means schools that have a lot of residential elements are out, as are those who are too student- or faculty-centered. Then, of course, there are the management, documentation, and financial factors to consider. For some small, innovative schools--California was once a haven for these--it's just too much.

    ACICS was a possibility for some schools, but when they got crushed they were required--as a condition of coming back to life--to drop the accreditation of doctoral programs.

    The original deal was based in large part on WASC's commitment to take these schools seriously. They did not. Everything else has been a calamity since that became clear. Some schools have folded, some are hanging on until they have to close, and a few are making serious progress towards accreditation. (I've done some pro bono work for one of them. Nothing much.)
     
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  5. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    (1) From the ad, it appears school teaches completely from canned videos. Only final projects are marked.
    (2) Yet it includes Doctoral Programs?
    (3) The school also cross-validates. It offers its U.S. degrees by 'evaluation' of Asian degrees. No work is done - just a fee paid.

    Will someone please explain to me how ANY recognized US accreditor could EVER approve a school that does these things?

    Perhaps a buyer can be found in Pakistan. ...or maybe Nicaragua. :eek:
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2022
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  6. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    1) Okay, maybe.
    2) Okay, unless it is missing the supervision necessary.
    3) Not good. Bad news.
     
  7. Johann766

    Johann766 Active Member

    "Partners are projected to reach $200,000 USD in 2022 to this university."

    What does that mean? They expect to get 200k for their cross validation of degrees (which is useless anyways since they are not properly accredited anyways.

    Maybe we can collect money and buy this school together :D
    However I would prefer to buy some franchise licence from a state-recognized school in e.g. spain or east europe rather than seeking accreditation in the US, which is surely much more difficult.
    Then offer propio degrees on Groupon:D
     
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  8. Dustin

    Dustin Well-Known Member

    I think we could probably, through looking at the BPPE list, narrow down which school it is. I did some searching but I can't find any that are limited to just MBA/DBA and also exclusively provide online education.

    This is the school I am currently giving the side-eye to: Columbia International College (http://www.cicusa.org/#/). They're BPPE only and offer only an MBA, EMBA and DBA. (Edit: Except they were founded in at least 2014.)
     
  9. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    That school's page still carries the BPPE requirement that it have at least accreditation candidacy by July 2020, which is long gone. It does not appear to have met that requirement and I saw nothing about clemency or stay-of-execution from the "Governor" - BPPE. I think it's on borrowed time - headed for the Last Mile. "Dead School Walking!" :eek:

    Furthermore, I don't think Columbia International is the school offered for sale. It doesn't offer the MA Psych. degree that the one for sale does. Nor does it offer the Bachelor's degrees mentioned in the sale ad.
     
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  10. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

    That is overpriced! The University of Arkansas System acquired Grantham University for $1. :D
     
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  11. Rachel83az

    Rachel83az Well-Known Member

    That bit actually makes sense to me. Psych could be a useful degree in Human Resources or similar. It's definitely "business related" at the very least.
     
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  12. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    At least Columbia International has some cachet going for it. It's located in Calabasas (Pumpkin-town?) - a big-money neighbourhood, that has been home to the Kardashians and Justin Bieber, among other notables. I heard that savvy Canadian, Justin B. recently sold his Calabasas home for a good profit. IIRC he paid $6 million + for it. - I think he was barely old enough to sign the papers at the time! But he sure had money...
     
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  13. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Well said. I missed that. Old age...
     
  14. Dustin

    Dustin Well-Known Member

    Oops! I was skimming, I thought the school only offered MBA and DBA. I'm sure the school is still on that list somewhere.
     
  15. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Not borrowed. BPPE has extended the deadline for some schools for a variety of reasons.
     
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  16. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    And now he even has his own Timbits. For the Canadian who has everything....
     
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  17. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    I think maybe it IS borrowed, in this case. 2 reasons:

    (1) Don't see anything about extension on BPPE page OR school's page
    (2) Under "approval" on BPPE site, ALL 3 Programs are marked "Suspended."

    It's here: https://search-bppe.dca.ca.gov/institutionDetail?schoolCode=42058873

    I repeat: "No Call from the Governor" (Bear Titty Junction)
    https://www.reverbnation.com/beartittyjunction/song/6090062-no-call-from-the-governor
     
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2022
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  18. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    I stand self-corrected on one other issue. CIC intends to move (or already has?) from super-rich Calabasas. It has moved / is moving to um... slightly less super-rich Woodland Hills. I'd imagine office rents there might be a little cheaper. Not that this whole issue may mean anything...

    Calabasas - average house price $1.56 million.
    Woodland Hills - average house price 1.14 million.

    And yes - I had nothing better to do. Slow around here (DI) ... :)
    Still a nice neighbourhood...
     
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2022

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