I know people attack Almeda, but...

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by intsvc, Nov 5, 2005.

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  1. intsvc

    intsvc member

  2. philosophicalme

    philosophicalme New Member

    Degree mill plain and simple...

    I like these quotes:

    "Few colleges or universities recognize credits earned at other institutions"

    Sure they don't...

    "Almeda_University expected to pursue regional accreditation in 2003; however, the accreditation requirements changed to exclude institutions that offer a majority of credits through experiential learning. "

    Wonder why?

    Is this a real accreditation or one they made up?

    "COUNCIL FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION ACCREDITATION_ (CDEA)"


    Rhonda
     
  3. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    This would be Dennis Chandler of SRU? Now there's a testimonial!
     
  4. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    happy customers, or, matchmaker, matchmaker, give me a break

    A procurer has customers. A shadchan has matches.
    A mill has customers. A university has students.
     
  5. DesElms

    DesElms New Member

    Attack? Exposure, perhaps. But "attack"?

    That's the sort of word that someone sympathetic to that which said someone might consider to be said attack's "target" might use. Calling Almeda the good-for-nothing diploma mill that it is is not an "attack"...

    ...except, perhaps, from the perspective of it or its supporters.

    And raising the issue in a manner clearly intended to cause those unsure that Almeda's a diploma mill feels trollish... and shillish. I mean... we could ascribe innocence to your question if said question hadn't included a phrase which reveals that you have read prior posts which clearly showed that Almeda is a mill; thereby indicating that you aren't merely confused.

    So, then, where stand you, intsvc?
     
  6. Kit

    Kit New Member

    Ya, fer shure! Like this one from the Montana customer:

    Almeda is certainly free to label that an "endorsement", 'course when I went to an accredited school we called it "satire". :D

    Kit
     
  7. bing

    bing New Member

    Re: Re: I know people attack Almeda, but...

    It could very well be that some are happy with Almeda and it just might fit their needs.

    Not long ago, I ran into a man who did a Pacific Western program. He seemed to get enjoyment out of the study there and he was pleased with his program. We didn't talk much about accreditation, as he wasn't very concerned with it. I am not an endorser of Pacfic Western but it was obvious to me that at least this man was happy with his study. He may have possibly been able to do the same on his own but I think the program gave him a guided plan through the doctorate.

    I asked him why he ended up at PWU and he said that price was one of the largest considerations. He was not interested in loan programs and wanted to pay off as he went. None of the accredited distance programs are what anyone might call bargain basement priced.


     
  8. DesElms

    DesElms New Member

    bing... c'mon, buddy. You and I have had our disagreements, but I've read most of your posts around here; and they're good, and I respect you for them. You're a very smart person. For that reason, I ask with all deliberate incredulity: You can't be serious about thinking that Almeda's even the least bit legit, can you?

    But Almeda's situation is not merely one of an otherwise legit school simply not yet (or choosing not to be) accredited. In the TIU thread you started, near the end of my post where I was responding to your question about the various entities which bear the name "Trinity," I linked you to a Trinity that's legit (though it has been controversial in the past, but I beg everyone's indulgence here to not focus on that for purposes of this thread) but simply hasn't yet received its regional accreditation (though is slated to in August of 2006). Almeda's not anything like that... or even like Pacific Western, for that matter. Even that place is more credible than Almeda. The color printer on my desk is capable of being a more credible issuer of diplomas. I say again: C'mon!

    Everyone's concerned about money. But going to a diploma mill isn't the answer.

    It's like an MBA. They cost a lot. Many want one. Many, I'm sure are tempted to go to a mill -- or even just an unaccredited, but not-so-good school -- to get one. Given those choices, it's better to go get the Ashworth MBA, if nothing else. It's cheap, it can be done relatively quickly, it's only as rigorous as it needs to be in order to hang on to its accreditation status... and, speaking of which, it's at least accredited by an agency (DETC) that's approved by the US Department of Education (USDE) and/or its Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

    Almeda? Ick! :mad:
     
  9. bing

    bing New Member

    Re: Re: Re: Re: I know people attack Almeda, but...

    Admittedly, I know nothing of Almeda. My point was that if this person attended Almeda and felt it met his needs, then reported such, then I have no beef with that. True. There are seemingly better choices out there.

    Likely, an Almeda grad isn't going to garner much more than personal satisfaction from the knowledge they gathered. Schools aren't likely to hire them even as an adjunct based on such a degree. Businesses may not even hire that person based on such a degree(being unaccredited). Likely if a school did hire him I would even send a letter to the school asking about their hiring policies and standards.

    Maybe the forum needs to start a ranking system for the unaccrediteds. This might be helpful. It's obvious people here think that even some of the unaccrediteds have value. We have already heard some positives for SCUPS and LBU(and some negatives). In the end, I do feel that there may be very legit reasons for a person to attend an unaccredited school. Hopefully, the school they choose will at least have some substance to it rather than just be a mill. I'm still of the opinion that RA is best as it affords one the most options for the future.


     
  10. TCord1964

    TCord1964 New Member

    Almeda is not just an unaccredited school, it is a diploma mill. Let's call it what it is and not even attemp to give it an air of legitimacy. The requirements for "earning" a degree at Almeda are a resume and a credit card number, period.

    Is Almeda on this list?http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.asp No, it is not.

    Don't waste your time with a "school" which "sells" degrees.
     
  11. bing

    bing New Member

    Well, it certainly sounds in the Hamilton category. A resume and credit card get you an MBA.

    The list doesn't include other schools that are considered of value, though. So, that list is maybe lacking something.

     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 6, 2005
  12. Anthony Pina

    Anthony Pina Active Member

    Re: Re: I know people attack Almeda, but...

    Originally posted by philosophicalme

    Degree mill plain and simple...

    I like these quotes:

    "Few colleges or universities recognize credits earned at other institutions"

    Sure they don't...


    You said it. I have taken one or more classes from 8 different higher ed institutions that would be transferable to only about 4,000 U.S. colleges/universities. That is just a few :)

    "Almeda_University expected to pursue regional accreditation in 2003; however, the accreditation requirements changed to exclude institutions that offer a majority of credits through experiential learning. "

    Wonder why?


    Because their statement is absolute nonsense, that's why. Accreditation requirements did not change to exclude anyone. In fact, an accreditation procedures were expanded to include institutions such as the Western Governors University.

    Is this a real accreditation or one they made up?

    "COUNCIL FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION ACCREDITATION_ (CDEA)"


    Someone certainly made up this unrecognized entity. CDEA's website is a model of incomplete information reminiscent of many diploma mills.
     
  13. Rivers

    Rivers New Member

    Peering out from under a bridge

    Please do not feed the troll. Run a search and look at fine posts this person has had. This troll has some sort of stake in Almeda, whether by degree or sympathy. Prior learning assessments DON'T cut it!
     
  14. Anthony Pina

    Anthony Pina Active Member

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: I know people attack Almeda, but...

    Hi Bing,

    Several have suggested that Degreeinfo or some other entity create a ranking of unaccredited schools. The problem is that in the absence of an external evaluation system (i.e. regional or national accredition) there exists no valid or reliable system of quality control or evaluation for non-accredited entitites. How would you compare Kennedy-Western, Pacific Western, Almeida, Breyer State, St. Regis and other such institutions? What would be the standards or criteria by which to judge a non-accredited school? Regional accreditation is far from perfect, but until someone comes up with something that works at least as well (preferably better) or is at least a credible alternative, accreditation will remain the primary minimum standard for colleges and universities.
     
  15. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Let them try for a government job and then we'll see how "happy" they are. They're "happy" basically because at this juncture they have no idea how foolish their decision was. And you can throw the PWU fellow into the mix. It is quite frankly irrelevent as to what the unaccredited degree holder thinks as this carries no weight towards the credibility of the school.

    Time and time again the unaccredited degree holder gets publicly thrashed yet still it does not sink in. Threads like this amaze me.
     
  16. Guest

    Guest Guest

    How about this for an unaccredited 3 tier rating system?

    1. Degrees that will shut you out of job market.

    2.Degrees that will cause you to lose your job.

    3.Degrees that will cause you to be called a fraud.
     
  17. CalDog

    CalDog New Member

    Ranking unaccredited schools

    It's tough to evaluate unaccredited schools, since such schools -- by definition -- do not cooperate with evaluators.

    But one possible criterion could be evidence of legal operation. For example, Kennedy-Western is licensed by the State of Wyoming; Pacific Western is licensed by the State of California. These schools are unaccredited, and they may or may not be academically legit, but at least they appear to operate legally within their respective states.

    Almeda may be one step lower down, because there does not seem to be any evidence that it has any legal status as an educational institution. The Almeda website does not even indicate where the university is located, much less its licensure. The FAQ page lists a Boise, Idaho fax number; however, Almeda is not included on the Idaho state government's list of public and private universities.

    Does anyone know if Almeda has any legal authorization to issue degrees, from any jurisdiction?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 6, 2005
  18. DesElms

    DesElms New Member

    Re: Ranking unaccredited schools

    Hence the reason, at least in part, why I characterized PWU as not being as bad as Almeda.

    As credible diploma issuers go, if it's between PWU, Almeda, and the color printer on my desktop, PWU's first...

    ...and my printer's second.
     
  19. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    Rivers got it right.
     
  20. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    Anthony Pina:
    What would be the standards or criteria by which to judge a non-accredited school?

    John Bear:
    Please see the thread I have started called
    "A proposal for a way to rate unaccredited schools"

    I would be very interested in comments.

    Thanks.
     

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