Ashford University - Accreditation?

Hello,

I am debating if I should transfer out of Ashford University based on what happened last month with the accreditation. Would you guys think it’s better for me and my future to attend another university from now and graduated from there or take the risk by staying and graduating at Ashford University? I currently have 82 credits and I’m set to graduate by September 2013.

1) What are the chances that Ashford University will lose its accreditation?
2) When thinking of firms that are “too big to fail” I think of Enron and tell myself anything is possible.
3) If they lose accreditation will my degree be invalid?
4) Will all my credits be accepted by Athabasca University if I decide to transfer out? – I do not want my 3 years of work to go to waste.

Based on what happened, I don't want Ashford University to be regarded as a "diploma mill" and make my degree worthless.

- John

 

1. Who knows.
2. Yep.
3. Not if you are finished.
4. Not likely.

 

Only the accreditation agencies can answer that question for sure.

Yes, the risk is real.

Ashford is accredited by HLC through 2014-15. If you get your degree before then, it should be a regionally accredited degree, even if they are unable to renew their accreditation later.

On the other hand, if Ashford does lose its accreditation after 2014-15, it might hurt the reputation or perception of older Ashford degrees, even though they would still be accredited.

Only Athabasca can answer that question for sure.

 

Thank you for your answers. I have just sent my application to Athabasca University. This is my first time doing a transfer; I am currently in the bachelor of business administration program at Ashford and would like to transfer to the bachelors of commerce with major in Finance at Athabasca, since it is not the same degree how many of my 82 credits would they shave off? And for some off reason it take 3 to 4 months for them to evaluate my credits, I also have to be enrolled for them to evaluate my credits. It’s a catch-22.

- John

 

Everyone gave you good answers- I want to throw something else out there. When I attended culinary school in 1988, my school was nationally - not regionally- accredited. It is NOW regionally accredited. So, when I started applying to schools, EVERYONE looked up the school (in a current database, obviously) and told me "yep, no problem, you'll likely get all your credits to transfer into us" and so I'd start the process ($) and apply. 4,5,6,7......my applications were all being denied. Why? Because the accreditation of when I attended was the real question, and that isn't immediately obvious to someone looking it up. They'd have to look at the dates and do the math (which they all eventually did) but my point, is that you're going to have a similar situation if Ashford's accreditation changes.

I see your situation being the reverse of mine. A potential employer searches the database and immediately sees the accreditation is NOT what it needs to be TODAY, and may or may not bother to go back and match dates to see if it was accredited when you attended.

That risk, in my opinion, is enough reason to transfer. Personally, I think you should check out one of the big 3, you'll likely have a much greater (maybe 100%) transfer. In addition, you can perhaps accelerate your last year. There are a lot of options for testing out of classes that you maybe have not considered, and the big 3 accept most of them.

*EDIT* I read ahead. You're going to wait 3-4 months for a degree evaluation? Uhhhhh, that's insanity. I just noticed your degree will be in business, one of the most TESTABLE degrees out there. You could be FINISHED in 4 months.

 

I would recommend you not to take the risk. I would recommend you to transfer out of Ashford University. Take a look at Troy University's program; you can transfer up to 90 credits. Good luck!

 

Have you looked into transferring into one of the "Big 3" colleges (Thomas Edison State College, Charter Oak State College, or Excelsior College)? All three of these schools have generous transfer policies.

 

It's not a guarantee that they will keep that accreditation through those dates.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if Ashford is given a Show-Cause order after HLC's Feb. 2013 meeting, which is when HLC will consider whether or not Ashford has a substantial presence in the region.

I would be a bit surprised if at the meeting HLC decided to withdraw accreditation at the meeting without going through Show-Cause, but it is possible as well.

I would recommend that Ashford students who will not be finishing in the fall should strongly consider transfer options.

 

Thanks for all the information guys, it was great. I have decided to apply to Arizona State University online. What do you guys know about this university?

 

Big state university...easily recognizable name...

 

Is it one of the better online universities? It's a little more expensive then Ashford but the transition is worth it. I can't find any information about ASU or how generous they are regarding transfer credits, anyone have a clue?

 

Actually, the HLC is going to be reviewing everything in Feb 2013 and making an accreditation determination then. They are not waiting until 2014 or 2015. Ashford had to submit some long, detailed report describing everything they will do to correct the issues WASC and HLC have with AU by the 9th, they have to host a HLC team by the end of August, they have to have a LARGER presence in Iowa than in San Diego by the end of December, and then in Feb 2013 HLC will review everything and make their determination then. SO it may actually be best to move on now. Ashford already had a sketchy rep. Now its flat out terrible. Schools like George Mason University are already refusing to accept Ashford credits because Ashford is on some "special watch list". SO leaving now may be a better way to go then waiting and having things get worse.

 

I go to ASU and they took all of my Ashford credits. Of course, I transferred before all this hit the fan, but as far as I know, they are still taking them. According to their site:

" You must have your transcripts sent from the issuing institution directly to ASU in order for courses to be evaluated and transferred. ASU applies the following general standards for transferring credit from another institution.

ASU accepts college level (not remedial) courses in which you have earned a grade of C (4.00=A) or better from regionally accredited institutions.
A maximum of 64 semester hours of credit will be accepted as lower-division credit when transferred from a regionally accredited community, junior or two-year college, with the exception of some special programs.

ASU will NOT accept the following types of credit:

Courses in which you earned a grade below “C-.”
Credit awarded by postsecondary institutions in the U.S. that lack candidate status or accreditation by a regional accrediting association.
Credit awarded by postsecondary institutions for life experience.
Credit awarded by postsecondary institutions for courses taken at non-collegiate institutions (e.g., governmental agencies, corporations, industrial firms, etc.).
Credit awarded by postsecondary institutions for non-credit courses, workshops and seminars offered by other post-secondary institutions as part of continuing education programs."

 

Best....university....EVER....