CCU Instructor

Afer perdoctus, eloquens, ardens
suumque Richardi honorem defendit.

Well done, Ike!

 

I was a faculty member at a California Community College for several years. A few of the faculty possesed doctoral degrees from CA state approved universities. They were paid based on their RA masters degrees, were not allowed to listed their nonRA doctorates on any college publications (including the web site) and were not addressed as "doctor".

Interestingly enough, a few years ago, I asked the Director of Personnel how an inquiry much like yours would be handled. She told me that she would inform people that the salary schedule (which was public information) is based on two factors: Years of experience and level of education (measured by degrees and units from regionally accredited institutions).

Tony Pina
CSU San Bernardino

 

Mr. Hassad

Reading this post leaves me with mixed emotions...since I have an MBA from Touro and I am seriously contemplating a PhD there...

Do the regulars feel that some type of informed inquiry ought to be directed to the administration of Touro? What kind of Pandora's box might be opened with such an inquiry?

Still in the U.S. ,
Steven King

 

Re: Mr. Hassad

I was (am?) one of his targets. But because he's stopped his behavior, I've dropped the matter. But I did inform him I knew who he was. He was also warned by counsel to cease and disist or face legal action. (Not my counsel, another party's.)

I would be careful about talking to Touro University International. Perhaps an inquiry regarding the qualifications of one of its faculty members might be okay, especially if you're a bona fide applicant, but it could also be perceived as tortious interference. I'd talk to an attorney before doing it.

 

Whether a student, applicant, potential applicant, employee or potential employee, I believe that the qualifications and experience of faculty should be public information, and there is no need to seek legal advice on that. What is not right about making a simple inquiry? I spent the week-end reviewing standards for faculty credentials nationwide and particularly in California. It seems as though for both faculty and students, NACES evaluations and the International Handbook of Universities are considered the “gold standard” (see examples below).

The BIG QUESTION: Does anyone know for sure whether or not Berne University degrees got favorable NACES evaluation? If not, there should be great concern. However, if Hassad’s degree was found equivalent, then I/we have no case.

Examples of the use of NACES evaluations and the International Handbook of Universities:

http://www.dhs.co.la.ca.us/dhr/public/bull/bulldisplay.cfm?bullid=1428
"Accredited institutions are those listed in the publications of regional, national or international accrediting agencies, which are accepted by the Department of Human Resources. Publications such as American Universities and Colleges and International Handbook of Universities are acceptable references. Also acceptable, if appropriate, are degrees that have been evaluated and deemed to be equivalent to degrees from United States accredited institutions by an academic credential evaluation agency recognized by The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. These documents must be submitted with the standard County of Los Angeles employment application."

http://www.tesc.edu/prospective/military/navy_college/faqs.php
"College/university foreign credits from institutions recognized by the educational authority of that country as listed in the International Handbook of Universities, World Education Series books or published by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO)."


http://www.psychboard.ca.gov/licensing/foreign-degree.htm
"On January 1, 2002, new legislation regarding the acceptance of foreign degrees by the Board of Psychology became effective. SB 724 adds the following language to Business and Professions Code section 2914(b): "An applicant for licensure trained in an educational institution outside the United States or Canada shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the board that he or she possesses a doctorate degree in psychology that is equivalent to a degree earned from a regionally accredited university in the United States or Canada. These applicants shall provide the board with a comprehensive evaluation of the degree performed by a foreign credential evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), and any other documentation the board deems necessary."

Thanks,
Robert

 

I don't think anyone's trying to build an airtight "case" against Berne and its degrees.

It is well-established that some admissions officials use the IHU. However, it is the least used of the authoritative guides. And that might change as more and more schools "back door" the process by getting into the IHU via recognition from tiny countries with no university systems of their own.

That some employers use the IHU should also come as no surprise.

If Berne degrees are consistently evaluated as equivalent to those issued by accredited U.S. schools, fine. But as far as I know, there have only been a couple of second-hand cases mentioned. I'm not even sure they've been substantiated.

Berne remains unlicensed in New Hampshire, not accredited by a recognized agency, and "accredited" by a tiny Carribean island nation with no semblance of either a higher education system, nor a means for evaluating schools within one.