Warren National (formerly Kennedy-Western) appears to be in trouble

This scenario may not be that unusual. I am currently taking a lower level course at a WASC accredited college that has all the features noted above (except no phone number). There is an option to email the instructor with questions.

 

Very well could be, just speculation on my part.

I think KWU / WNU need a nickname for the impenetrable shield around it.

Iron curtain, steel curtain are taken...

 

I'm thinking "Shower Curtain" since you are gonna need one after dealing with them.....(shower; that is...)

 

I see today, that they actually have these 2 items available from their main website via .pdf

WNU 2008 University Catalog
WNU 2008 Course Catalog

Dated September 2008 of course, but has graduation requirements, course description, tuition costs, etc., will have to compare it to their original 2007 one to see what was cleaned up.

 

The new catalogs are lovely -- but the timing seems odd. How useful are classy new catalogs during an admissions moratorium? The catalogs don't acknowledge the moratorium at all, although they are dated September 2008, after it was announced. A skeptic might wonder if the new catalogs are really intended for the benefit of the accreditation review committee (which will be visiting next month, and which will certainly review the catalogs), rather than for students (who currently can't enroll, and who therefore have no use for them).

In any event, the 2008 University Catalog does not appear to offer much opportunity to KWU/WNU alumni with unaccredited degrees. It indicates that:

- an RA master's degree is required for admission into doctoral programs (no mention of NA or unaccredited degrees)
- an RA bachelor's degree is required for admission into master's programs (again, no mention of NA or unaccredited degrees)
- only RA or NA schools will be considered for credit transfer (no mention of unaccredited credits)

I foresee some interesting challenges when WNU lifts its moratorium on new students. They are obviously going to get applicants with unaccredited KWU/WNU degrees. If they consider those applicants (and the website says they will, although the catalog suggests otherwise), then they will be forced to make an explicit determination as to how much -- or how little -- those degrees are worth, relative to the RA standards that they wish to adopt.

 

As longtime readers know, what appears in a catalog isn't binding--schools waive their published requirements when they see fit. WNU would be able to consider graduates of unaccredited schools.

That said, the possibility exists for the RA to require WNU wall itself off from K-WU in some way or ways. Hard to say.

Also, it seems odd that a school would stop admissions as it attempts to gain candidacy for RA. I assume they've not ceased operations altogether? This would seem to make candidacy an even more remote possibility.

Finally, what WNU actually does with graduates from unaccredited schools--or applicants with credits from such schools--won't be discernable by observers, except on an occasional, anecdotal basis.

 

Let us remember that the North Central Association gave eligibility, and then candidacy, to Trinity College (Indiana), somehow managing to miss the dozens of major irregularities which were subsequently identified in the lengthy 'indictment' written by fired Trinity 'whistleblower' and VP, John Fyffe. To North Central's credit, when they got the Fyffe document, they canceled what was probably going to be the final 'rubber stamp' accreditation-granting visit, and subsequently withdrew the candidacy.

 

Perhaps the first step for WNU will be a "correspondent" status, enabling them to work towards candidate status while enrollments and admissions are low.

 

Is/was this Trinity College (Indiana) related to the Trinity Seminary (Indiana) about which we've seen so many threads?

 

Ted: "...Is/was this Trinity College (Indiana) related to the Trinity Seminary (Indiana) about which we've seen so many threads?..."

John: Yes. They began life as the Toledo School of the Bible (in Ohio, which invited them to leave), and have had several name changes since then.

 

I haven't compared the catalogs yet, but ran across this right away. The 10/2006 WNU Catalog, lists these 2 gentlemen on their Board of Directors:

F. Barron Fletcher, III
Managing Director, Parallel Investment Partners
Dallas, TX

Clark R. Crosnoe
Managing Director, Parallel Investment Partners
Dallas, TX

So, if you look at their company website, guess who they are investing in?

Warren National University
Growth Company Recapitalization
Investment Date: July 2000
Industry Segment: Education & Training
Exit Date: December 2006

http://www.parallelip.com/port_detail.php?id=14

 

Should have looked a little further. The aformentioned Parallel Investment Partners acquired a majority interest in L3, Inc. on 12/29/2006.

"US - Parallel Investment Partners acquired an undisclosed majority interest in L3 Inc, a provider of educational services, for $5 mil."

There is a description of the transaction here, but you have to pay $36 to get the entire report:

http://www.alacrastore.com/storecontent/Thomson_M&A/Parallel_Investment_Partners_acquires_L3_Inc-1826631020


Who is L3, Inc? It is the company that owns (or is) WNU. Their website refers to their directors as the L3, Inc. Board of Directors

http://www.wnuedu.com/mission-board-of-directors.asp

So, WNU is owned by an Investment Company? Anyone disagree or see an error is this chain?

 

One more step,

http://www.alacrastore.com/storecontent/Thomson_M&A/Investor_Group_acquires_L3_Inc_from_Parallel_Investment_Partners-2006584020

Investor Group acquires L3 Inc from Parallel Investment Partners

Publication Date: Jun 04, 2008
Abstract: US - An investor group comprised of SKM Investment Fund and SKM Equity Fund III LP, a unit of State of Wisconsin Investment Board, acquired an undisclosed majority series A convertible preferred stock of L3 Inc, a provider of educational services, from Parallel Investments Partners.

 

Looks like the WNU site has been down for a few days. Wonder what changes are being made as the accreditation site visit team pulls into the driveway

 

This rather mysterious L3 shouldn't be confused with the the important military contractor, L3 Communications. Two different things entirely.

http://www.l-3com.com/

It's interesting that SKM bought a majority stake in this peculiar L3 for just $5 million. That's not very much money for an entire 'university'.

It's changed hands a lot recently. Parallel acquired a majority stake in L3 in 2006, and then sold it to SKM in 2008.

And what does "majority interest" mean exactly? Does it mean that the original Kennedy-Western owners retain a minority interest and stand to make lots of money if the new majority owners can turn K-W/W-N around and do something with it?

How many members of the current L3/W-N Board of Directors are holdovers from the K-W days or drawn from the old K-W group? Looking at the list, I'd guess that the ones with California connections might conceivably be K-W people. (Does that include both W-N's President and COO?)

http://www.wnuedu.com/mission-board-of-directors.asp

I can see the attraction for an investment company, I guess. If they can get this thing accredited and then emulate the U. of Phoenix, it could become a real money-engine.

 

It lists Paul Saltman as the President of L3. He was the original owner of K-W.

 

Warren National Trademark Infringement Lawsuit

I was trying to find more info based on what you provided, but couldn't, but did run across this interesting tidbit:

Aspen University, Inc. v. Warren National University, LLC et al
Plaintiff: Aspen University, Inc.
Defendant: Warren National University, LLC, Vantage Media Corporation and Unknown Agent/Co-Defendant

Case Number: 1:2007cv00379
Filed: April 17, 2007

Court: Virginia Eastern District Court
Office: Alexandria Office [ Court Info ]
County: Out of State
Presiding Judge: District Judge Claude M. Hilton
Referring Judge: Magistrate Judge Thomas Rawles Jones Jr.

Nature of Suit: Intellectual Property - Trademark
Cause: 15:1114 Trademark Infringement
Jurisdiction: Federal Question
Jury Demanded By: None

 

"And what does "majority interest" mean exactly? Does it mean that the original Kennedy-Western owners retain a minority interest and stand to make lots of money if the new majority owners can turn K-W/W-N around and do something with it?"

That's exactly what it means.

 

The real truth...

I am posting to let people know that WNU is indeed, having troubles. As of December 19, 2008, a vast amount of the office staff at the Cheyenne corporate office have been laid off. It is due to the review process that occured towards the accredidation visit in October 2008. The report was not favorable towards the school. Thus, the school is having issues persuing other investors to join in to invest towards the university continuing efforts. The last comments were that WNU is not going to persue the accredidation process any further.

 

As you clearly understand, this is an issue of interest for many of our members. They would just love to have more details. Perhaps you could tell us a bit more about the accreditation visit. The highs, the lows. If the school is not going to make the cut, what were the deciding factors? Please don't be coy. Don't make us pursue you.