Catholic Distance University, HLC & ATS Candidate

Accreditation moves on multiple fronts from Catholic Distance University, a nonprofit founded in 1983 and DEAC accredited since 1986. In June last year their Graduate School of Theology received candidacy from the Association of Theological Schools, and in November the entire institution received candidacy for regional from the Higher Learning Commission. As a Catholic catchphrase goes, "we're not either/or, we're both/and.”

 

Student enrollment is listed at 187. I wonder if they plan to expand the diversity of studies once they become RA

https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=catholic+distance+university&s=all&id=475398

 

I imagine this was necessary to compete with my alma mater, Holy Apostles College and Seminary, which has been RA for decades and ATS accredited for a few years now.

 

If they really want to compete they should probably come up with a catchier name. I get it. They have a decent reputation. But if they really want to step it up, I'd imagine using the word "Distance" in the title could tip a potential candidate toward an RA/ATS option without advertising that their degree was earned online.

 

The name is pretty clunky

 

Agreed. Never liked that name. I rarely (and by rarely I mean almost never) see schools using "Distance", "Global" or "Online" in their names these days, so for that reason alone the name doesn't sound very pleasing to the ear on top of being antiquated.

 

Saint Isidore University? The 7th-century Archbishop of Seville and author of the encyclopedia Etymologiae has been suggested as patron saint of computer users and the Internet.

 

If they went with St. Isidore University they'll run into a little problem with what to name the sports teams. There's already too many "Saints" and too many "Crusaders." I'm voting for "Angels." Of course, first they'd have to have some teams, which they don't but then, everything starts with just a little imagination.

 

Go Izzies!

 

And right after saying that, I see that HBX has now changed its name to Harvard Business School Online. I'm reminded of Purdue University Global, and I'm in a thread for Catholic DISTANCE University.

Maybe those obvious "internet school" terms are making a comeback? I hope not.

 

One theory about the emphasis of “distance” in the names of the schools is that the schools are marketing to non-US students. In such a case the DL aspect is understood and promoted.