Athabasca applies for Middle States accreditation

Regional accreditation will also make their programs eligible for military tuition assistance. Concievably, they could also jump on the eArmyU train in the future, if they choose to do so.

Tracy<><

 

I am not doubting what you are saying.
My problem with AU admin is that they have these grand plans, but have yet to do any cost/benefit analysis studies and presented them to the AU community at large that would support the notion of AU trying to achieve RA status.
As it stands now, I would likely have an easier time getting any information about any subject from the FBI than I would from AU admin about the cost/benefit ratio of RA accreditation. For AU admin, it's like a state secret, which is frustrating, since they aren't the ones that have to pay the bills for these kinds of endeavours, should they fail.

Darren.

 

There must be someone in admin that you can pump for information. If they are really that secretive about it, you might consider taking your tuition money elsewhere.

Tracy <><

 

Well how much does Administration have to justify itself to students? Most of the institutions I am familiar with operate with little or no input from students. They typically have a Board of Trustees they are responsible to but little else. Since we are talking about a relatively small cost a study of it might cost much more than the actual action. If you want to find where all the tuition money goes get a copy of the budget and look at utility and Faculty salary expenses.

 

I can already do that! (with regard to administration salaries) What I cannot find is the cost to date of what this RA nonsense has been to the AU treasury, and by extension the effect that it has on tuition. If RA is such a da*ned wonderful thing, then why aren't any financial figures being offered to prove it...all I have been hearing from people is how wonderful RA will be for AU students, with little empirical evidence to back it up. If and when I see such information, I will change my tune. Until that time, do not attempt to lecture me about how I should view my administration's "efforts." I go to AU, do you?

I've got assignments to do, and an operation that I am scheduled for tomorrow, so I've really got better things to do than to debate the "merits" of RA for AU unless an empirically valid cost benefit analysis is provided by AU admin---something that will likely happen when h*ll freezes over.


Darren.

 

Some foreign people (students) may reqard an US accreditation as the sign of good quality in education. As to some foreign schools, they may use it as the selling point and for marketing purpose. The amount spent on getting accreditation may be regarded as the marketing cost.

In Hong Kong, there are eight universities in this small town and competition for students is keen. Among the univerisities, both the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the Hong Kong University of Science and technology (HKUST) claim that their buiness schools are "one of the first two Asian institutions accredited by AACSB". HKUST further claims that its "BBA in Accounting is the first accounting program outside North America accredited by AACSB". Needless to say, foreign accreditation is just the 'gimmick' to attract students locally or from neaby areas (rather than from the US). However, one thing is certain. The universities must follow the stringent requirements of the accreditor.

 

If you aren't interested in discussing/debating this matter, then I suggest that you might refrain from posting (venting) your own opinion in a public forum. You can't reasonably expect to present such a strongly negative reaction and not receive a response from those who frequent this board. It seems illogical to assume that people who do not "go to AU" cannot have valuable opinions on the subject.

Why exactly do you feel that "an empirically valid cost benefit analysis" is necessary in order to discuss the potential benefits of RA for Athabasca? It seems unlikely that the process is costing as much as you seem to suspect, but regardless of whether it is a financially sound decision there are still clear benefits for Athabasca's current and potential US students, at least.

 

Hi Darren

I hope the operation, assignment and classes go well. Good luck and best wishes.

 

Aha... Bill, I’d give up reading the Toronto Star and lay of the Maple syrup for a while.

Seriously, one factor not mentioned so far is that several provinces have moved to the political right in recent elections. This has meant programs of reduced government, reduced spending and privatisation. This includes the Canadian health system, and education. Alberta and Ontario are the provinces where the most ambitious proposals have been discussed publically.

Until now, education and its accreditation has been the sole responsibility of the provincial government. Here in Ontario, all the universities are funded from student fees and provincial grants; fees are set by provincial regulation. (In this sense, the universities are like state universities, even the big “Ives” like University of Toronto and Queens University.)

With the possibility of privatization comes the question of accreditation. However, to date the privatization debate has not addressed accreditation. I do not know if we can read a strategic purpose into Athabasca’s RA move, but it is intriguing to speculate about its meaning given the political climate