Association of Independent Christian Colleges and Seminaries

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Garp, Aug 3, 2022.

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  1. Garp

    Garp Well-Known Member

    Michael Burgos got my interest when he mentioned this "accrediting" agency in connection with Andersonville Theological Seminary.

    The Open Christian University (Delaware) is a member of AICCS https://www.openchristian.education/abouts/academic-accreditation

    Open Christian University is part of the Ballsbridge University Network. I wondered where I had heard that before.

    "The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has swung into action after the government of Commonwealth of Dominica in the Caribbean flagged a fake university and honorary degree racket in India, leading to Kerala Police opening an investigation."

    "The letter refers to a fake institution called ‘Ballsbridge’ run by one Dr Pappachen Baby from Kollam district in Kerala."

    https://www.google.com/amp/s/m.thewire.in/article/education/dominican-govt-mea-ballsbridge-university-pappachan-baby/amp

    Quality associations apparently for AICCS. For schools that don't need no stinkin government oversight.
     
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2022
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  2. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    There has been a group of unaccredited or fake-accredited schools operating with Dominica addresses for at least 10-12 years -including Ballsbridge. In fact. several of them were incorporated as IBCs at the same office address - we knew them as the "8 Copthall Group." One such school was selling MD degree programs for $5000. They said the degree would take someone about 3 years and stressed that it would not lead to licensure - anywhere.

    At that time: "Got a $300 computer? Got $1,200 to establish an IBC with a University name? Got $10 /mo for hosting? You have an online school."
    Now they can add a couple of thousand bucks and get "accredited." :(
     
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  3. Dustin

    Dustin Well-Known Member

    Was that Blue Marble by chance? They're still kicking.
     
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  4. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Yes it was. This ahem - Medical University is indeed still operating -and has expanded its degree offerings. It's a hair-raising read! Maybe I should read it more often. :) For example - you want a PhD in Stem Cell Biology? They have one for you!

    It's here: https://bluemarbleuniversitymedicalschool.com/
     
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  5. Garp

    Garp Well-Known Member

    Question is why AICCS (an ostensibly Christian organization) would allow Open Christian University (part of the Ballsbridge group) to be a member? Was there any analysis or vetting? Just paid fees?

    And why Andersonville Theological Seminary would decide this was THE organization to obtain accreditation from (since Governmental oversight is so terrible a thing in terms of their values).

    At least they can brag that their credits are accepted internationally by Ballsbridge educational institutions worldwide.
     
    Last edited: Aug 4, 2022
  6. cacoleman1983

    cacoleman1983 Well-Known Member

    The fact that California University Foreign Credential Evaluation Service endorses them as equivalent to a regionally accredited school in the US lets you know their service is for those schools at the bottom of the barrel.
     
    Last edited: Aug 4, 2022
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  7. Garp

    Garp Well-Known Member

    That was a weird read. They note one guy involved in "Lifestyle Medicine". The problem I have is that he is a certified Lifestyle Medicine coach or whatever it is and opens a clinic. When I see MD behind his name in that setting, I don't know his MD was a 3 year unaccredited program and he is not really a doctor.
     
  8. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    What barrel? No self-respecting barrel I know could bring itself to hold these schools! :)
     
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  9. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Stick around the clinic for a couple of visits. I'm sure you'd catch on. :)
     
  10. mbwa shenzi

    mbwa shenzi Active Member

    Oh, Ballsbridge. Dr Baby ran the Indian side of things Ballsbridgean, but otherwise, BU is a family business. Prince Thomas Idahosa Osemwende was the father of Idahosa Charles/Charles Idahosa PhD LLD JD DPH JP FBQS FBU DICP and his siblings. These are Bini guys from Benin, Edo State Nigeria, and pretty much like the University of America, Ballsbridge is heavily geared towards the (West) African market. Ballsbridge too used to be accredited by AAC in Curacao and still claims accreditation from Axact's IAO.

    Quite a few interesting people here: http://www.acedu.org/fellowship.html

    Rev Fr George Gonzales, St Regis professor, AAHEA director, professor of psychology at UCN Nicaragua, vice-Chancellor of Saint Monica University Cameroon and more recently at the University of America.

    Dr Sir Christopher Oyat, American University of Business and Social Sciences, St Clements University, the above mentioned Open Christian University etc

    Professor Dr Sir Bashiru Aremu - all you need to know about here https://www.profaremubashiru.org

    In addition to Ballsbridge, many of these individuals also come together at Crown University.
     
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  11. tadj

    tadj Active Member

  12. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    I was browsing Kairos University the other day and I like how they have their denominational affiliation under "accreditation." Basically, they are saying that they are accredited by the UMC which allows for graduates to have their education essentially "count" for becoming a UMC minister. That's a nice way of putting it.

    What value does UMC bring? Well, they have churches across the country. So that "accreditation" carries some weight even if it isn't institutional accreditation. It offers value to the student because we know, at a minimum, a mainstream denomination is saying that this education is good enough for them.

    The question for any of these random little accreditors should be what value are they offering students? Because most of them seem to just be membership associations which, by the way, are perfectly fine to exist. It's that they are selling it under the name of "accreditation" that we all find so problematic. This accreditation brings no assurance of quality. Offers no assurance of the utility of the degree. They can have it all they like. To the typical student, however, it should be seen as being as meaningless as it is.
     
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  13. Garp

    Garp Well-Known Member

    Kairos University is also holds institutional and programmatic accreditation but I agree. Being a UMC institution will carry a lot of weight (large denomination).
     
  14. Michael Burgos

    Michael Burgos Active Member

    Oh brother. That is absolutely amazing. Its sister school https://bluemarbleuniversity.com/ is similarly electrifying. IMO, the only thing more dubious is California University FCE whose website looks like it was created by a basement-dwelling manchild in 1993.
     
  15. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    Yes, of course. I just mean I like their phrasing here. They differentiate between anything the denomination offers from being part of their regular accreditation. Most schools I have seen just list it on the same page. This feels more honest and transparent. Of course, from the limited read of the Kairos Project I have done, it seems like a noble effort.
     
  16. Michael Burgos

    Michael Burgos Active Member

    Seriously tho, "Ballsbridge"? What a name.
     
  17. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    I dunno -we have one here in Ontario. https://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=ontario/balls/

    I couldn't find one in Dominica though. :) People made the same comment when this school first appeared around - I think - about 11 years ago. I was surprised when I read here about Dr. Baby and the Indian connection. When these Dominican-incorporated schools first came into being, Nigerian names were all through them - no Indians that I an remember.

    Plenty of Nigerian immigrants in Canada these days. I know some personally - super people. And I've no doubt the majority of those living in Nigeria are people I would like. But the guys who run these "schools?" Brrrr...
     
    Last edited: Aug 4, 2022
  18. Garp

    Garp Well-Known Member

    Someone whose first language isn't English? Or perhaps it is significant. You have to have balls to cross this bridge and get a degree from us because people will be busting them every time they Google where you got your degree from.
     
  19. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    That's exactly the kind of thing we heard back then... :)
     
  20. mbwa shenzi

    mbwa shenzi Active Member

    Ballsbridge University, because it all started in Ballsbridge, Dublin, Ireland. Like Victorville International University, because the founder/owner of that school used to live in Victorville, California. But it's not Victorville International University now, it has a more...charismatic, so to speak, name today.
     
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