AIU in trouble - given a Warning by accreditation agency

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by onlinephd, Jul 5, 2004.

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  1. onlinephd

    onlinephd New Member

    Is AIU in trouble ... they were given a Warning by SACS - Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

    Personally that does not surprise me.

    http://www.sacscoc.org/meminfo.asp - click on the link regarding actions taken on June 24th. 3rd link/

    Negative Actions
    The Commission placed the following institutions on Warning:
    American InterContinental University, Atlanta, Georgia
    For six months for failure to comply with Comprehensive Standard 3.3.1
    (Institutional Effectiveness) of the Principles of Accreditation.
     
  2. Veteran101

    Veteran101 New Member

    Explain

    Can anyone provide definition in plain english to the violations.
    I have performed a Google Search but find much listed that with my background is goobledegook.

    Maybe someone like Dr. Bear or one of the professors on this board can explain.

    Please show me the light?
     
  3. -kevin-

    -kevin- Resident Redneck

    Just in case,

    "3.3 Institutional Effectiveness
    3.3.1 The institution identifies expected outcomes for its educational programs and its administrative and educational support services; assesses whether it achieves these outcomes; and provides evidence of improvement based on analysis of those results."

    http://www.sacscoc.org/pdf/PrinciplesOfAccreditation.PDF


    I don't know which portion AIU failed to do in this paragraph but it seems straight forward as a type of self review, analysis, and documentation.
     
  4. codekiller

    codekiller New Member

    "Just a case of Growin pains"


    Career Education Corporation Reviews Recent Accreditation Actions
    E-mail or Print this story

    2 July 2004, 07:00am ET

    HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 2, 2004--Career Education Corporation (Nasdaq:CECO) today released background information on recent accreditation actions at certain of its schools. The company said it was providing the update to foster a clearer understanding of these actions.

    Mentioned Last Change
    CECO 42.25 2.75dollars or (6.11%)
    The company was recently notified of the following accrediting agency actions:

    -- American InterContinental University (AIU): The Commission on
    Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
    (SACS) has placed AIU on Warning status. In December 2002,
    AIU's accreditation was reaffirmed for the normal 10-year
    period, through 2012. In the course of the accreditation
    process, SACS requested that AIU provide additional
    information on several compliance matters, with the
    expectation that those matters be addressed satisfactorily
    within a two-year timeframe. In placing AIU on Warning status,
    SACS has advised AIU that while it has addressed
    satisfactorily a majority of those matters, AIU must satisfy
    the remaining compliance matters by December 2004, the end of
    the two-year period. CEC said it expects AIU to fully resolve
    the remaining matters within the prescribed timeframe and
    maintain its current status as an accredited institution.

    -- Brooks College: The Accrediting Commission for Community and
    Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and
    Colleges (ACCJC) has advised Brooks College that, following
    its recent re-accreditation review, Brooks has been placed on
    Probation and it has required Brooks College to provide it
    with a progress report to address certain matters by October
    15, 2004. CEC said it regards the issues raised by ACCJC as
    serious and is working closely with Brooks College to ensure
    that the ACCJC concerns are fully resolved by the prescribed
    date. CEC noted that Brooks College is an entirely separate
    and distinct institution from Brooks Institute of Photography.
    Although both schools are owned by CEC, they are separate
    entities with separate management and curricula, and are
    separately licensed and accredited.

    -- Western School of Health and Business Careers: The Accrediting
    Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology
    (ACCSCT) has granted Western's request for accreditation of
    certain academic programs. As previously reported by CEC, on
    March 4, 2004 Western received notice from ACCSCT that letters
    relied upon by CEC in its August 2003 acquisition of Western
    to document ACCSCT approval of certain of Western's programs
    were not authentic. ACCSCT's finding was a result of a routine
    accreditation visit in January 2004 following CEC's
    acquisition of Western.

    In a lawsuit filed March 12, 2004 against the school's former
    owners, CEC alleged material misrepresentations of fact and
    the breach of certain representations and warranties regarding
    the accreditation of several programs of study offered by the
    school, including those programs that were the subject of the
    inauthentic letters. As a result of these discrepancies ACCSCT
    issued a Show Cause order directing Western to explain the
    inauthentic letters, indicating that Western would need to
    secure approval of the affected diploma and degree programs.
    Western subsequently applied for approval of all programs
    referenced in the suit, and ACCSCT in early June issued
    approval for the diploma programs. ACCSCT currently is
    reviewing the degree program applications and a decision is
    expected in the near future.
    In addition, CEC said that in the course of the past few months, 16 of its schools have received renewal or initial approval of institutional or programmatic accreditation. CEC also said two of its International Academy of Design and Technology schools--Detroit and Toronto--have been granted authority to confer bachelor's degrees.

    Career Education Corporation ( www.careered.com ) is the world's largest on-campus provider of private, for-profit postsecondary education and has a rapidly-growing presence in online education.

    Except for the historical and present factual information contained herein, the matters set forth in this release, including statements identified by words such as "expects," "will," and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on information currently available to us and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual growth, results, performance and business prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks related to our ability to address the accrediting agency issues described herein, risks related to our ability to comply with, and the impact of changes in, legislation and regulations that affect our ability to participate in student financial aid programs, costs, risks and effects of legal and administrative proceedings and governmental regulations, future financial and operational results, competition, general economic conditions, ability to manage and continue growth, and other risk factors relating to our industry and business as detailed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, and from time to time in our other reports filed with the SEC. We disclaim any responsibility to update these forward-looking statements.

    CONTACT: Career Education Corporation
     
  5. Oherra

    Oherra New Member

    I feel SACS was misleading in this instance.

    The above quote is exactly what the SACS website said about AIU when I examined their accreditation prior to starting classes. One of the reasons I felt comfortable staying with AIU (even if they are expensive) is because they were reaffirmed until 2012 and I didn't expect any accreditation issues to come up. I believe that if SACS found deficiencies that they should have placed the institution on warning when they found them. I think it was misleading to the students and other members of the public at large to reaffirm them with no notation of any deficiency.

    SACS could have placed AIU on warning until the deficiency was cleared up, and then placed AIU on probation status if the issue was still unresolved close to the deadline.
     
  6. Oherra

    Oherra New Member

  7. joeh

    joeh New Member

    AIU's Accred Warning

    If you go look at the following accred., document from the Dec 2004 meeting of the accred board,


    http://www.sacscoc.org/disclosure/AIU.pdf

    you will find that the "warning" has been removed. However here's what I don't understand.

    If I'm not mistaken they were reviewed in 2002 and given accred., for 10 years thru 2012. In the document I have presented above, they are going to be reviewed by Dec 2005 and possibly have their accred revoked, instead of it running for the 10 years originally planned?

    Does this mean that anyone entering AIU now, could have their coursework agenda changed this time next year?

    If you graduate before accred., is revoked at your institution how does it affect you in using your degree elsewhere in furthering your ed?

    I appreciate all comments, because I'm considering AIU.

    Thanks
     
  8. Oherra

    Oherra New Member

    Joe,

    It's impossible to say in advance what the commission may or may not say or do in 2005. This is no different from any other accreditation decision about any other school going on at any particular time.

    I think it does say a little bit, that AIU was removed from warning in December. It's not often that the commission removes and accredited institution without placing them on warning or probation immediately beforehand, though in theory they can take any action the wish.

    However, I think AIU will continue to be accredited. They have far too much invested in the issue to ignore the requests of the commission. They may make some changes along the way, but I feel that they will continue working with SACS and will come out as a better institution in the end.
     

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