A small university to close with little warning. It blames the Education Department for its end.

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Tireman 44444, Sep 27, 2022.

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  1. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Or the much more legitimate (and DEAC-accredited) University of Fairfax.
     
    Johann likes this.
  2. Charles Fout

    Charles Fout Active Member

    Didn't they already get this one
    https://richmond.com/news/local/virginia-moves-to-shutter-virginia-international-university/article_17a831a5-eeb0-54a3-9a1c-339f84e4a86d.html#:~:text=The%20State%20Council%20of%20Higher,students%20from%20mostly%20foreign%20countries.
     
  3. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Last edited: Sep 30, 2022
  4. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Charles Fout likes this.
  5. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

    Need a job at FAU (not Florida... lol)?

    Instructional Designer
    https://www.higheredjobs.com/admin/details.cfm?JobCode=178124299&Title=Instructional%20Designer
     
  6. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    That might very well help save them! And it explains why, with so few on-campus students, they're hiring an instructional designer -as Chris reported. I hope we'll see some good online offerings and that the strategy works. But they still need new accreditation.

    Hello, Fairfax? Prepare ye to be "Saved!" Y'know who to call. :)
     
    Last edited: Oct 1, 2022
  7. AsianStew

    AsianStew Moderator Staff Member

  8. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

  9. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

    Can it be TRACS? Isn't that the Fairfax University of America affiliated with Islamic faith?
     
  10. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    I'm not sure what "affiliated with the Islamic faith" means. I don't know of any official church connection.
     
  11. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

    I thought TRACS means, Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. The Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) is a U.S. based institutional accreditation organization that focuses on Christian colleges, universities, and seminaries seeking collegiate accreditation in the United States.
     
    MaceWindu likes this.
  12. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Yes it does. I think Rich was questioning this bit about Fairfax's "ties to the Islamic Faith." I don't believe it has any. It may have students who came from the Islamic world, but the school itself ---none I know of. In the past, as VIU, Fairfax has accepted students from many parts of the world. I remember Steve posting about students from Mongolia, back when he worked there.

    I suggested TRACS because secular schools that needed National accreditation have successfully added enough Christianity to their otherwise secular programs for TRACS to grant them accreditation in a fairly quick timeframe. I don't think any belief statements etc. are required from individual students.

    If the school wants to get re-accredited, I think TRACS could be their best shot.
     
    Last edited: Oct 2, 2022
  13. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Neither do I. The president was Turkish, and there were some staff from that part of the world, but not exclusively. Lots of students from the Arab world, but also from other locales around the globe. I remember having two female students from Indonesia who were smart and hard-working, and charmed my wife to no end. She still talks about them.

    I taught for them for a couple of years while they were getting established and striving for accreditation. Other commitments came along and I no longer had room for them. This was 20 years ago.
     
  14. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    VIU is secular, but its founder is Turkish. I don't know whether he still runs it, though.
     
  15. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    The President's name is Ahmed Alwani. Sounds Arabic to me, rather than Turkish. or possibly Iranian. If Turkish, the first name would usually be spelled "Ahmet." Turkish uses the Roman Alphabet, as does English. Example: Ahmet Ertegun, owner of Atlantic Records. The last name could be derived from Iran (Farsi) - Alvaani - colorful.

    The Wiki indicates some really abysmal deficiencies here. I don't think any accreditor would be anxious to come to the rescue at this point. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairfax_University_of_America
     
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  16. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    That's a different guy. Dr. Isa Sarac founded it and ran it for many years, apparently until 2019.
     
  17. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Right. He is/was Turkish, knew other Turks, and had connections in other countries where Islam was the predominate religion. But the school did attract students from other countries, too.
     
  18. MaceWindu

    MaceWindu Active Member

    At fault? Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. Or, the school for being accredited by that agency?
    Or worse, the school could only survive by students taking out student loans?
     
  19. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

  20. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    All of the above, if you like, plus, now that ACICS is in an unrecoverable coma and awaiting its end, I don't think the school could get recognized accreditation anywhere else on a bet. Really bad shape. See below and check the link:
     
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2022

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