DETC & Accreditation of Ph.D. Programs

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Guest, Apr 29, 2003.

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  1. Guest

    Guest Guest

    An inquiry to DETC regarding the possible accreditation of schools which award academic doctorates brought the following response:

    "The Commission put forth for comment a number of years ago some proposed policy statements regarding Doctoral/Terminal Professional Degree Programs. At its June 2000 meeting the Commission considered the Proposed Standards for Doctoral Degree Programs. The Commission elected to postpone the adoption of the proposed standards to allow time for further study and to concentrate on its immediate efforts on gaining further experience accrediting schools offering First Professional level degree programs. At its January 2001 meeting the Commission adopted the Policy on First Professional Degree Programs.

    In its most recent appearance (December 2001) before the US Dept. of Education's National Advisory Committee, the Commission petitioned the Department to expand the Commission's scope of recognition to include First Professional degree programs offered at a distance. The Committee recommended acceptance of the Commission's petition. The Secretary of Education confirmed recognition at the First Professional Level.

    As of today's date [4-29-03], the Commission has not scheduled a time to revisit the issue of accrediting doctorate level programs."

    Susan M. Reilly
    Director of Accreditation
    DETC
    [email protected]
    202-234-5100, ext. 103
     
  2. Broderick

    Broderick New Member

    So what does this mean in regards to CCU?

    Veritas,

    Michael
     
  3. oxpecker

    oxpecker New Member

    Through its accreditation of Unisa, DETC has set a precedent for accreditation of only the undergraduate programs of a university that also offers doctorates (and not "first professional" doctorates, which don't exist in SA -- where degrees in Law and in Medicine are bachelor's degrees). So perhaps CCU could follow this precedent, and have accredited undergraduate and Master's programs alongside unaccredited doctorate programs?
     
  4. David Boyd

    David Boyd New Member

    The Unisa precedent only applies to schools outside of the United States.
     
  5. DWCox

    DWCox member

    _______________________________

    It is however, CCU's intent to immediately add the doctoral programs just as soon as soon as DETC obtains USDOE approval to accredit institutions offering doctorates. As it was stated to me, "The doctoral degrees are a significant percentage of our business." DETC has not set a time line for adding doctoral degrees but -- IMHO -- one can expect this to occur within five years, very likely much earlier. Due mainly to the RA's willingness to offer distance-based doctorate degrees but not to the extent that the RA's take over the distance market.

    Just my thoughts.
     
  6. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    It would not be as marketable, but it would cut down on the "turf" issue if a DL-denominated degree were offered with DETC accreditation. (Yeah, I know it's me and the weird nomenclature thing again.) Something like Tel.D., D.L.D., Dist.D. That might be step 1. Step 2 would be getting the thing acknowledged on that USNEI list or whatever it is. Now the B&M snobs would snork and wuffle, but I'm enough of a pioneer/oddball that it would be a badge of honor.
     
  7. Dennis Ruhl

    Dennis Ruhl member

    Turf Wars

    The University of California system protests whenever a California State University school wants to offer doctorates

    Can you imagine the pathetic whimpering if DETC was granted the right to accredit more doctorates?

    Since DETC was given the right to accredit first professional doctorates they have accredited all of one school.

    Perhaps they could start with a list of professional doctorate such as DMin, DBA, and DPsy to see the results.
     
  8. Frangop

    Frangop New Member

    Ph.D's and other post-masters qualifications add esteem and credibility to the issuing uni/college but they are indeed a niche market.
    According to my understanding, in the vast majority of universities, less than 5% of all students enrolled are studying for their doctorate.

    Therefore, from a marketing point of view, yes, doctorates are good – but from a business and cash-flow point of view, they are not essential.

    CFr
     
  9. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    In the world of for-profit universities, especially unaccredited ones, this almost certainly is not true.
     
  10. Kirkland

    Kirkland Member

    I tend to think in CCU's case, doctorate programs are a significant source of current revenue. However, CCU appears to be changing its business/education model in keeping with its application to DETC. They will suspend doctoral programs until the DETC charter is expanded to permit them. This may be 5-10 years. In the meantime, I believe their volume will increase with national accreditation in their other degree programs to offset this, if they stay cost competitive.
     
  11. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    If CCU actually drops their doctoral programs and receives DETC accreditation, I will be suprised, pleased, and impressed. But it hasn't happened--yet.

    What happens to the doctoral programs vis a vis DETC's future approval to accredit them is really speculative.

    It is feasible for CCU to continue operations as-is until DETC expands its authority.
     
  12. Mary A

    Mary A Member

    Hi Rich - one point of clarification. If CCU has decided to seek accreditation, they will have to discontinue their doctoral program. The standards are very clear on this. DETC accreditation is an institutional one, meaning all programs offered by the school must be reviewed. Since DETC does not accredit doctoral programs, the school cannot offer one and seek or earn accreditation. An exception has been made for non-US schools (e.g. UNISA) but that does not extend to US schools.

    Mary
     
  13. Dennis Ruhl

    Dennis Ruhl member

    Is there any hint where DETC is going on doctoral accreditations? Any discussion?
     
  14. Mary A

    Mary A Member

    Hi Dennis - re: hints as to where they are going, none that I know of at this time. While I can speak to the standards, questions of this nature can really only be fielded by the staff at DETC.

    Mary
     
  15. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    That's been made clear many times (and implied in my post--see the first paragraph). That DETC cannot yet accredit Ph.D. programs is clear in my second paragraph.
     
  16. Dennis Ruhl

    Dennis Ruhl member

    I just thought that they might have asked for direction from the membership.
     
  17. DWCox

    DWCox member

    ------------------------------------------

    You said the same thing about Northcentral and we all know what happened in this case.
     
  18. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    No, I didn't, because these are two different situations.

    With Northcentral, I said the NCA wouldn't accredit them without Northcentral introducing residency requirements to their doctoral programs. I was wrong, as you seem to point out whenever possible. Of course, I've pointed it out many times, too.

    With CCU, I haven't said anything quite so definitive. Rather, I've suggested that they (CCU) could just keep things the way they are until after (if) DETC begins to accredit academic doctoral programs. I actually said such a thing is feasible, not certain.

    Post as many times as I do and you're bound to be wrong about some things. I will be as pleased with CCU as I am with Northcentral if CCU becomes properly accredited, in whatever form. But so far, all we have is speculation.
     
  19. DWCox

    DWCox member

    ---------------------------------

    DETC is not going to sit around and wait for the RA's to establish themselves in the area of doctoral degrees. My guess is that within 2.5 years DETC gains USDOE approval to include doctoral programs. My thought here is that Calcoast has some insider information about this timeframe. I personally do not think Calcoast would forgo the business that is doctorate degrees for any length of time.
     
  20. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Wes:

    Is this based on anything that others can see? The time of "2.5 years" seems awfully precise.

    What is the motivation for the RAs to "establish themselves in the area of doctoral degrees"? Are they some sort of cartel seeking out the highest profits for its members?

    BTW, the RAs have been accrediting schools offering distance education doctorates for more than 20 years. The regional associations do not need to "establish themselves." They are already established as the arbiters of what is and is not a university in this country.

    The difference between zero days of residency (Touro and Northcentral), five (Fielding), 20-or-so (Capella and Phoenix), 30-or-so (Argosy, Union, Nova Southeastern, and Walden) really isn't that much.

    If CCU was really serious about both accreditation and doctoral programs, it could follow Fielding, CIIS, Saybrook, and several other short-residency programs that both offer the doctorate and are accredited by the same RA (WASC). Or they can drop their doctoral programs immediately and apply for DETC accreditation, perhaps re-adding the doctoral programs later. Or they can wait until DETC begins to accredit schools offering academic doctorates (if they do), and then apply to DETC.

    Has anyone seen anything from DETC that indicates they are considering this? I know John has mentioned it (a good source). But anyone from DETC?
     

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