California Southern University

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by phdcandidate1374, Feb 11, 2010.

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  1. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Ah, yes, "Cal Southern." Another one of DETC's finest. Faculty members who include:

    -- Mike Ewald, whose doctorate is from Empresarial
    -- John Belt, whose DBA is from the unaccredited California Pacific U. and whose DPsy is from the then-unaccredited Cal Southern (his employer)
    -- Clifford Kettemborough, who is listed as both "Clifford Kettemborough, MBA" and "Dr. Kettemborough," yet the source of his doctorate is not revealed. He claims three (three!) doctorates here: http://www.wwetc.com/BIO+PIC%20-%20Dr%20Clifford%20R%20Kettemborough1.pdf but provides no source. He seems to be "Director of Technology at The Walt Disney Company." The net is littered with his biographies, none of them indicating the source of his doctoral degrees.

    Tasty.
     
  2. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    D.Psy.?

    I've seen a lot of different variations of degree titles (Ed.D. vs. D.Ed., Ph.D. vs. D.Phil., etc.) but I can't say I've ever seen that one before.

    Is that some sort of end-run around the universal Psy.D. designation (endorsed by the APA), or was that just a typo?
     
  3. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Probably my typo.
     
  4. OpalMoon34

    OpalMoon34 member

    Dr. David Arena of Argosy University has an MBA in Healthcare Administration from California Pacific University Argosy University Online Programs

    Dr. Edward J. Becker, member of the Board of Directors of the California Municipal Finance Authority, has a DBA from California Pacific University Meet Our Board | California Municipal Finance Authority

    Elizabeth M. Harman, Assistant Administrator of the Grant Programs Directorate of FEMA, has an MBA from California Pacific University FEMA: Elizabeth M. Harman

    I don't see any problem with having a degree from this university.
     
  5. ebbwvale

    ebbwvale Member

    It would seem that some significant employers and agencies agree with you.
     
  6. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    One can find such exceptions at accredited schools all over. But a collection like the one found at Cal Southern? SCUPS lives. And DETC continues to meet its standards.
     
  7. TCord1964

    TCord1964 New Member

    The DETC does seem to be accrediting some questionable schools with a shady past lately. A good example is University of Atlanta, formerly Barrington University. It was accredited by DETC, and now it seems they will be losing that accreditation. Perelandra College also looks like it may lose its accreditation, according to info I have read elsewhere on this board. Not that Perelandra has a shady past, but I thought it was a strange choice for accreditation.
     
  8. ebbwvale

    ebbwvale Member

    Why is Perelandra under the microscope? Why did you think that it was strange choice? I see that one of its faculty has served/serves as an accreditor for DETC i.e. Dr.Reichard Research, Art, and Creative Thoughts by Dr. Joshua Reichard | joshuareichard.com
     
  9. TCord1964

    TCord1964 New Member

    DETC has Perelandra listed under a show-cause order for re-accreditation...not a good sign for the school. I thought Perelandra was a strange choice because they only offer two programs, and the school is named after a C.S. Lewis book. Its address appears to be a mail box drop in a strip mall, according to Google Maps. One of the faculty is listed as "the first graduate of Perelandra College" which I find odd. I can turn up no one else who claims to be a graduate of Perelandra College on Google.
     
  10. ebbwvale

    ebbwvale Member

    You are right. It does not look good. If they have no graduates, I wonder what the deal is? Degree mills have graduates and you can find them on google. What is the point of having a degree if you dare not or cannot use it? I would think that it defeats the reason that most who would use a degreemill.

    No doubt in the fullness of time, we will know.
     
  11. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    I've been a critic of DETC's practices and the value of their accreditation for a very long time. Mainly, I've been disappointed in that they don't live up to the role of accreditor very well, accrediting junk and then maintaining substandard oversight.

    It's true that RA schools loose accreditation sometimes, and others go out of business, but it feels like that's even more true at DETC.

    They could stand to implement a candidacy period so they could take a look at these schools for longer periods of time. That would help. But I also wonder about their accreditation standards, especially around finances and administration.
     
  12. OpalMoon34

    OpalMoon34 member

    I have already shown you how your supposed criticism is just plain snobbery. It has no rational or intellectual basis. If Argosy University, the California Municipal Finance Authority, and the Directorate of FEMA have no problem hiring California Pacific University graduates for their top positions, then why should you criticize California Southern University for hiring a professor with a doctorate from California Pacific University?

    WASC has just recently admitted California Southern University's application for Eligibility and I am quite sure that by the kind of dedication they are showing towards improving their organization, you will see them obtain regional accreditation sooner or later.

    [​IMG]
     
  13. Petedude

    Petedude New Member

    Interesting. A regionally accredited, online-only school operating within California. That should get tongues wagging within regional academia.
     
  14. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

    Hey! Don't forget Touro University International --> TUI University --> Trident University International is accredited by WASC, and only solely distance learning (online) from the state of California. :yup:
     
  15. CalDog

    CalDog New Member

    Why? WASC has apparently been willing to grant regional accreditation to online-only schools operating within California since 2005, when they accredited TUI University. TUI is now Trident University International, and it's still a regionally accredited, online-only school operating within California, although it is currently on Academic Probation.

    "Eligibility" is the first step in the regional accreditation process, but it's a relatively easy one. The hard part is getting to the second step, which is "Candidacy". If Cal Southern becomes an official WASC "Candidate", then it's a safe bet that full accreditation is on the way. But they currently haven't reached that point.
     
  16. scottae316

    scottae316 New Member

    Blanket statements are hardly ever true. It is easy to attack DETC, after all compared to regional accreditors they are small and have no where near the resources. I spent some time comparing the fee structure of DETC to Middle States, what an eye opener. If the other regional accreditors charge like Middle States it explains some of the cost of higher education. I am not saying that DETC is perfect and that they have not made mistakes, but to criticize DETC and let basically let pass the regional accreditors when they accredit the likes of UoP, Ashford, Mountain State and others shows me that there is more the same than different. There are many fine schools that have or had DETC accreditation, WGU, Global, CIE, Taft, St. Augustine to name a few and until recently APUS (as we all know they resigned but no reason was given, to my knowledge). According to the DE and CHEA DETC is a valid accreditor, and others on this board who have earned degrees from both DETC and RA schools say that they were satisfied.

    I have no affiliation with DETC, but I am soon to be one who has an undergrad and a graduate degrees from an RA schools who will be undertaking a course of study with a DETC school. Maybe that will change my position or maybe it will only serve to validate my opinion. Why a DETC school? I like the program, the cost is something I can afford for both myself and my wife who is in the same graduate program out of pocket and it is a VALID accredited school and degree. We shall see what happens.
     
  17. OpalMoon34

    OpalMoon34 member

    They currently haven't reached that point because they have only become Eligible two weeks ago.:sly: If others were able to do it, I see no reason why California Southern University can't. It's a pretty ambitious organization. Have you seen the photos of their building and facilities (I have included a few below)? They are really making every possible effort to be the best. They are also the only online university I know that holds a regular LIVE lecture series conducted by experts, which are available to students by actual attendance and to everyone by online streaming California Southern University Events and Lectures.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  18. CalDog

    CalDog New Member

    It's great that Cal Southern is "a pretty ambitious organization". On the other hand, the school was established in 1978, so it's taken them 34 years just to apply for regional accreditation. Perhaps they haven't always been so ambitious.
     
  19. OpalMoon34

    OpalMoon34 member

    Nope, you are talking about its previous incarnation as Southern California University for Professional Studies (SCUPS). Who cares about SCUPS? The "pretty ambitious organization" I referred to is California Southern University (different name, different officers, different website, different curriculum, and different system), which came into existence in June 2007. After 3 years they became DETC accredited, and 2 years after that they became WASC eligible.
     
  20. CalDog

    CalDog New Member

    The organization that I am referring to is the one that proudly announced its "33rd Annual Commencement Ceremony" in 2011. Pretty remarkable for a school that "came into existence in June 2007".

    This is also the same organization that puts the following message in extra-large letters on its home page, so that it's the first thing that a visitor sees:

    "Since 1978, California Southern University has featured high quality distance education with a personal touch"

    Well, California Southern apparently does, since it refers repeatedly to SCUPS on its own "History" page, and repeatedly references the 1978 founding date.

    Now, it may be true that the direction of this institution changed around 2007. If so, that's great. But isn't that consistent with my suggestion that "perhaps they haven't always been so ambitious" ?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 30, 2012

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