Graduates from DETC programs- ?

I have yet to have anyone even question my BS and MBA through CCU. I can see where many in certain fields of work would still question a DETC or NA accredited school.

My true feelings is that it is a " lack of education" on the questioner in terms of legitimate accreditors.

I would state that my degree is recognized by the US DOE and the CHEA and should their be more questions for there, I would be happy to enlighten them in the whole accreditation spectrum of what I have learned at degreeinfo.com and give them a education " free of charge ."

I imagine that alot of the evaluatory and required accrediting requests from potential employers could fall into this particular situation where a HR or even a company policy was developed, yet was based on general knowledge, including the term of Regionally Accredited institution. Not to the fact that there are other accreditors who are recongnized by the USDOE and CHEA.

I agree that a RA degree will still hold more acceptance.

Just my thoughts.

 

My degree was never questioned though my employer did a thorough check of the school, going even so far as to call the school and interview someone knowledgeable about their particular accreditation. My NA DETC accredited degree was acceptable and still is on a Federal level.

The state of Texas TCLEOSE (POST Certifier) for licensing Peace Officers in Texas however has decided that it will NOT recognize any degree accept by one of the 6 RA and even goes so far as to list those agencies. Now once I finish my graduate degree, I will formally protest in writing this policy, but not before because I do not want the complaint dismissed because it looks like I am of a biased opinion and inferior education....(which can and does happen).

I find it to be an ignorant policy but so many officers have gotten "life experience" CJ degrees that are of course of questionable reputation, therefore the TCLEOSE board decided to stem the abuse of the higher certification and post secondary credit recognition. It started because of rampant abuse, hopefully when the dust settles cooler heads will prevail.

Moral of the story, sometimes the rules change on you mid-stride.

P.S…..as from the educational side, I learned a LOT at Ashworth College which I have surprisingly remembered and drawn on with my studies at Southwestern College.

 

Thanks for the input. I personally have not bias one way or the other, although I recognize that RA colleges do have wider acceptance, particularly in fields where some sort of license is required (medical, law enforcement, etc.).

My field (journalism) has no such restrictions, although there is the inevitable snobbery in favor of "name" institutions which also happen to be RA. However, I think my 20 years of experience in the field may help me overcome the fact my degree won't be from an Ivy League school.

 

True. And like I said, once I complete my graduate degree (RA) then I will file a complaint, because at that point I am simply running off the priciple of the matter and am not doing so for selfish reasons as I would have gone as far as will be recognized by the board. A PHD or DBA is rare in law enforcement and the board only states a "graduate degree" which lumps the MS, MA and PHD and DBA into kind of the same group.

Heck even a graduate degree MS or MA is rare in law enforcement.

 

I remember when law enforcement was taught at vocational/technical schools, and an associate's degree was all that was required to be a cop. Times have definately changed.

 

Pennsylvania must be an unusual state. PA state police now require a minimum associates degree but provides extra points for a bachelor's. My own department requires a bachelor's and almost all command positions are filled by graduate degree holders. Most PDs in my area have a list of accepted universities. I suspect most are RA.

I have been involved in many new police hires and promotions and it seems that most require college degrees. Many promotions are based on grduate degrees not only in criminal justice but social work and liberal studies. Are you in Texas and other states seeing the same thing???

 

It is interesting how education hit Policing internationally. In the early 1990's there wasn't one University course in Australia on Criminal Justice. Now there is at least one or two universities in each state running Bachelor/Masters Programs in Criminal Justice.

One university, Charles Sturt, has built an extensive faculty on policing matters. http://www.csu.edu.au/faculty/arts/courses/courses_pg.htm

Entry is getting harder for those without any university study.

On the issue of accreditation, the US is almost unique in that the Federal govt recognition is considered inferior to private accrediting bodies. Without government accreditation in countries that have a UK origin such as Australia, there would be a difficulty in getting the degree recognised. An Australian seeking to do a distance learning degree from the states would probably choose the DETC degree over the RA, unless otherwise advised.

 

Actually I haven't seen that many degrees in our applicant pool. Most have some college or intend on getting an AS but not many have actually completed anything yet.

Additionally, our department has not adopted any academic criteria to be met to be promoted other than to say that they will take education in lieu of experience if it comes down to that. It's not that they don't respect education, but none of our administrative staff has even so much as an AS degree....so a lot of stock is not placed into it.

This is odd because we are Federal, but our department was newly minted a little while back in the Patriot Act, which pretty much means we filled a lot of the ranks with former leos.

 

I was recently told by an LEO friend the FBI and other federal agencies now only accept RA degrees for admission to their agency. At one time I read that NA degrees were accepted by the FBI as qualification for admission.
Any knowledge of this change?

 

Not according to the FBI's web site:

"Applicants must possess a four-year degree from a college or university accredited by one of the regional or national institutional associations recognized by the United States Secretary of Education."

 

This is true. The Feds generally have clear guidelines to acceptable degrees. Anything recognized...as said above. Probably the most intelligent/enlightend policy around.

 

From the FBI website:

Special Agent


What are the qualifications for the Special Agent position?
To qualify for training as a Special Agent, an individual must be a US citizen, or a citizen of the Northern Mariana Islands, and have reached his/her 23rd but not 37th birthday. All candidates must possess a valid driver's license and must pass a polygraph examination, a drug test, and a color vision test. Other requirements include uncorrected vision not worse than 20/200 (Snellen) and corrected 20/20 in one eye and not worse than 20/40 in the other eye. Applicants must possess a four-year degree from a college or university accredited by one of the regional or national institutional.

https://www.fbijobs.gov/Faq.asp#agent

 

An FBI recruiter in Harrisburg told me that the new guidelines require a resident degree accredited by one of the six regional accrediting bodies. This is taken from his guidelines:

Minimum Qualifications for the Special Agent Position

Special Agent applicants must meet the following MINIMUM qualifications to be considered for the position:

be a United States citizen or a citizen of the Northern Mariana Islands,

be completely available for assignment anywhere in the FBI's geographic jurisdiction,

be at least 23 years of age but not yet 37 at the time of hire (due to the length of time it takes to test, process, and hire new agents, it is advisable not to begin testing if an applicant is over 36 ½ years of age),

possess a valid driver's license,

be deemed by the FBI's Chief Medical Officer to be physically able to engage in firearms use, raids, defensive tactics, and other essential functions of the job, and

possess a bachelor's degree from a four-year resident program at a college or university which is certified by one of the six regional accrediting bodies of the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.

 

I wonder what the reason is for the change in policy? I can't imagine they really had that many DETC degree holders seeking a job as a special agent.

I hate to see opportunities for NA degree holders being reduced, rather than expanded. It makes you wonder if recognition by the U.S. Dept. of Education is worth ANYTHING.

 

I would feel more dependent on this information above if it reflected itself on their ' what is suppose to be current " website.

I could find no corelation of this added ilimination of a nationally accredited program anywhere within their site.

I did leave message for my local FBI office to clarify.

 

I've never seen the distinction made at the federal level, although some positions do require professional certifications or licenses such as Bar Certified, CPA, etc. I recently saw an add that specified that or a CCNA in addition to a degree. At least for the FBI, which is probably the hardest of all Federal jobs to get.

 

Good point. For some specific DOD civil service series (say that three times real fast), I've seen job postings that desired PMP and/or Acquisition certification.

It seems that they're looking more to commerical/industry qualifications than they did in the past.

Dave

 

Yep. And it seems to have started with Hoover and the FBI.

 

Obviously the RA/NA situation is a concern. Otherwise, we would not need this thread. It seems like we all agree that NA probably won't be an issue in future employment and RA will not be an issue in future employment. My question is, why take the risk? Many people change jobs and even careers multiple times in their lives. Why risk getting a degree that won't be recognized? (even if that risk is small)

-Travis

 

Exactly. In 1997, facing retirement from the Army, I had no idea I would become a professor of CIS.

A colleague serving his last assignment as PMS for UofI-Chicago in 2002 wanted to transition into a civilian college. His masters degree was NA - fine for the Army but not acceptable at any RA institution for admission to a PhD program let alone employment..