I thought it would be fun to discuss these two corporate sister schools. I know that "New Charter University" serves here as a punchline of jokes about silly new names, and thanks to Dr. Bear I'm aware of Patten's late founder/namesake's fraud conviction back in the day. Any other thoughts? There are things going for NCU: 1) $199/months pricing model with "unlimited courses", no books required 2) Streamlined WGU-like pedagogy (I believe their president is former Western Governors provost) 3) Slick website, with "try before you buy" course content available This got to be enough to generate some discussion. methinks. I mean, NCU/Patten regionally accredited AA in General Studies is $3700 if done in 4 terms. This, from a for-profit. Sounds almost unprecedented to me. Not to mention their program selling courses to California CC students who couldn't register for a course at their campus - at California CC prices.
New Charter is DETC-accredited, and charges about $800 per term. Patten is regionally accredited and charges about $1300 per term. So the idea is that you take three terms at NCU, then transfer to Patten for the final term, and get a regionally accredited AA degree for $3700 total -- although most of your coursework would be NA. The pricing is obviously competitive. However, the initiative is entirely Patten's own -- they don't have any special arrangements with California CCs or other California schools. So they cannot guarantee that their courses will actually transfer: Of course, if Patten were to lose regional accreditation -- they are currently on probation with WASC -- then transfer of Patten credits might be even less guaranteed.
If Patten University loses accreditation, would that apply immediately? I see that they are on probation since 2010, so its almost 2 years. How fast they gonna lose it in case if decision goes against them? WASC website says that 'Accreditation and student status" continues while institute is under probation, does that mean if students enroll now until decision/negative in case would be consider as accredited ? I am considering Patten since couple of weeks over Western Governors, just due to cost. I am just 30 credits away. I can afford Patten but not Western Governors on my current financial situation
First they'd be put on "show cause" status, which is the last gasp before disaccreditation, but that status doesn't last long. By the way, in case it's not abundantly clear, if you have to ask these questions, enrolling in the school would be playing dice with your future.
Patten got probation based on financial and governance issues... Then it got sold to a for-profit startup, UNext, and the accreditor approved change of ownership (and the move from religious non-profit to secular for-profit with social mission). I understand UNext recently got venture financing. The point is, both the finances and the governance of Patten is in a complete overhaul right now, with WASC blessing. It's hard to say if UNext will still be in business in couple of years (startups are inherently risky), but I think it's safe to say Patten will not lose accreditation next summer. This would not make any sense whatsoever. Having said that, if anyone would ask me, a serious DL learner would do well to stick with more established schools right now. Have you looked into Excelsior or, say, Peru State College?
