California Coast University announces DETC accreditation application.

I'm so happy about this, I just don't want it to go away. Besides I'm close to the coveted "senior member" number of posts!

Veritas,

Michael

 

Please keep this updated as more info becomes available. Thx.

 

The real question is.....

...for those stupid (I know probably too strong a word) enough to use CCU to get a BS and / or MBA does this help them in any way?

 

Re: The real question is.....

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CCU students who graduate after DETC accreditation is granted will have a properly, nationally accredited degree. Understanding of course, that doctoral degrees do not apply to this statement.

What about the current CCU doctoral students who don't graduate for another, say five years, and during that time DETC gains approval to accredit doctoral degrees, and CCU gains DETC inclusion of doctoral programs. Will these graduates have a DETC accredited doctorate degree, I think so?

I personally, think it's only a matter-of-time before DETC gains USDOE approval to accredit doctoral degrees. DETC is gaining experience in working with institutions that offer doctoral degrees. UNISA, Columbia Southern, CCU are all institutions that either offer doctorates unconditionally, or are phasing out, but still providing this level of education and possible to a large remaining population -- certain enough to provide DETC the necessary experience required by USDOE.

I was informed that DETC might gain USDOE approval to include doctorates in as early as 2005.

Opinions please?

 

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Professors can defined their turf all they want by refusing to work with or hire anyone holding a DETC accredited doctoral degree but I REALLY don't think this group will be able to significantly impact DETC's ability to gain USDOE approval.

If the RA's can offer a doctoral degree -- entirely via the distance model -- why can't a DETC accredited institution?

My opinion is that within the next 10 - 15 years the vast majority of non-science related doctoral degrees will be distance-based programs. As the number of holders of distance-based degrees increases so too will acceptance -- even within the academic environment.

 

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I have a CCU BS and MBA and it has served me well. Why would you consider using a CCU degree stupid ?

 

I misspoke....

...I should have said "enough to have used CCU".

 

Re: Re: The real question is.....

DETC and the regional accrediting bodies technically don’t accredit degrees or degree programs, they accredit institutions.

As such, if a person enrolls in a doctoral program at CCU and graduates after they receive accreditation, the graduate could truthfully state that he or she earned their degree from an accredited institution, even if DETC never elects to review doctoral programs.

While the degree would technically be beyond the scope of the accreditation, I wonder how often this fine point would come up. Maybe in situations which require licensing but I doubt in others.

Even a careful review of the transcript would should the degree was earned after the school received accreditation.

 

I'm sure that they can. The state approved schools already do, so I see no reason why DETC schools can't.

My point was that there is politics involved with this. There are entrenched constituencies that won't want to see access to doctorates made any easier. They believe that there are too many doctoral programs now.

The other specialized accreditors that already accredit doctoral-level schools are just that: specialized accreditors. But DETC specializes not in an academic discipline but in a delivery medium. It can accredit schools in any subject, so long as they are DL. That intrudes on the regional accreditors' turf in a big way.

Ph.D.s are the jewel in the academic crown. They enable people to feel very special. Earning them is a rite of passage into an exclusive fraternity.

The academic world has to be convinced that DL doctoral programs don't fatally compomise academic standards. I mean, can anyone on Degreeinfo think of a DL doctoral program that's research-productive? Can anyone think of a program whose thought influences its discipline, whose work is widely studied and cited?

That's the next hurdle for DL, I think.

 

What do you mean?

 

That some of us....

Looked at CCU in the late 80's thinking we had found an alternative to traditional studies, only to later find out that a degree from CCU was all but useless in real life. We were either fooled or stupid, take your pick.

 

Re: That some of us....

Neither. CCU has graduated a great number of people. Surely they must be using the degrees they've earned.

While Bear's survey of admissions officials showed clearly that degrees from unaccredited schools have little or no acceptance in academia, my survey of HR managers shows a significant level of acceptance. State-approval is a widely accepted form of recognition; holders of such degrees should expect widespread--but not universal--acceptance. This lessens when HR managers are told about accreditation, state licensure, state approval, etc. But it remains high.

 

When you say "...thinking we had found an alternative...degree from CCU was all but useless in real life...", who is the we?

I was not fooled or stupid. I made a chioce based on my personel circumstances. I have used my CCU degree and will continue to use it. I have recommended CCU to several people but I always explain the limitations.

I don't know what your situation is but maybe you are part of the few and not the we.

 

Re: Re: That some of us....

And don't forget that small niche of folk who earn RA undergrad and master's degrees, a CCU (SCUPS, etc...) Ph.D., and practice psychology in CA. There is certainly some utility to their state-approved degree.

In my home state of NC, many miles from the great state of CA, I saw two CCU doctorates associated with the local community college. Granted, the positions were gained based on RA faculty qualifications at the master's level, however, the CCU doctorate was being used.

 

Re: Re: Re: That some of us....

Which lends a bit of credibility to the degree: it was, at least, acknowledged by the school/employer. But we don't know if this was done purposely or not. Perhaps the school's officials know CCU is unaccredited. Perhaps they find state-approved schools okay enough to list degrees from them. But perhaps they don't even know--it could be that the degrees are listed because the faculty members provided that information to a clerk to typed it up. We don't know.

John Bear surveyed admissions officials. I surveyed employers. But no one's asked HR managers or other hiring managers at accredited colleges and universities about this. Which is why it bugs me when advocates of unaccredited schools grab on to such situations, ignore the alternative explanations, and say "See! I told you these degrees are useful!" It's not that they're wrong, it's that it hasn't been demonstrated.

 

Then it begs the question....

Why the need to go back and get additional degrees from accredited colleges?

BTW: the "WE" would appear to be you and me.

While CCU might have bee a reasonable alternative to accredited colleges in the 80's it's hard to make that case now, given the alternatives.

 

Re: Then it begs the question....

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Which is exactly why Calcoast is making application to DETC.

 

I am condidering teaching in th efuture and CCU willl not work for that.

 

BINGO!.....

....now it comes full circle. This is why CCU is a horrible choice for people given the alternatives out there today. And for those unfortunate folks who spent time and money at CCU in the past, one can only hope that any progress towards any national accreditation (DETC) is better than none. Although I fear not much.

 

When I decided to get my degree from CCU, I signed up for the BS/MBA program. CCU was the best school that I could find given my circumstances. I wanted it to be cheap, portable study, and etc. I never dreamed I would ever want to teach some day.

I still stand by my original claim - "I have recommended CCU to several people but I always explain the limitations"

Before anyone decided on CCU, I think they shown examine all the alternatives...you are absolutely correct. If CCU will meet all the persons needs, it is a good choice.