Charisma University and TRACS

I was cruising the TRACS site and noticed that Charisma University shows up as under review or something similar. I am assuming it is in applicant status. They have German Acquin (spelling?) and accreditation by a recognized US business accreditor.

Charisma also appears to have added additional programs. In my opinion 299 per credit hour for their degree is a little pricey (don't know what mileage the German accreditation gives it).

 

The owner of that school sued DI, DD (unsuccessfully) and a bunch of us as individuals (also unsuccessfully) in 2013. After that, I don't really have any further interest in discussing them. YMMV, of course.

 

This institution's advertised tuition (as per its catalog) is $200 per credit hour for undergraduate, $275 for graduate, and $425 for doctoral. Although, those rates conflict with those advertised on its webpage. It does not appear that it offers any scholarships, discounts, etc., and it does charge significant fees in addition to the tuition. That observation leads me to believe that this institution is a for-profit business-- not necessarily a detraction in my view. As I surveyed Charisma's PhD in theology I was unimpressed by both its admissions requirements (e.g., no mention of biblical language or a research language requirements) and its course list. The catalog claims that this program "introduces students to the field of Christian Theology." That is a troubling statement since an advanced research degree is supposed to grant mastery and expertise and not merely an introduction.

 

425 is even worse. Assuming 60 credit hours, that is over $25,000. I agree that a PhD that introduces is a little underwhelming.

 

Right. So one could ostensibly earn a Ph.D. in theology from, say, Liberty, take advantage of the financial aid and not have the baggage of rigor or accreditation issues for a comparable investment. Whatever market gap Charisma Univ. is trying to fill is non-existent.

 

I’m no defender of Liberty, but their doctoral programs within the divinity schools appear to only be 395 an hour. Even without financial aid.

If the required credits are comparable, that would still be cheaper.

 

This is accurate, but understated.

Charisma didn't sue; it's owner/operator did.

He attempted to serve many parties, but I was the only one actually served.

He sued me in California, where he was operating the school. (Without being approved by the BPPVE to do so.)

We argued that my criticism of Charisma was accurate and without malice. We also argued he had no standing to sue because the school was in the Turks and Caicos, not California, and that if it was operating in California it was doing so outside the law.

He represented himself in the suit; I hired a lawyer. He showed up to at least one hearing, but stopped doing so when it became clear the judge was not amused. Right before the judge made his final determination, the owner called me and asked how we could settle. I had previously called him with the same question when the suit was first filed, and he would have none of it. So, neither did I. I told him I was going to beat him in court.

When he failed to show in court, the judge awarded me the decision by default. Then we filed an anti-SLAPP suit, alleging he was using the court to shut down Constitutionally protected speech. We won that, too. This allowed us to submit a motion for a judgment to recoup legal fees and costs. But I passed at that point. I had won the case, won a judgment against him, and the cost of collecting would have been greater than the amount owned (about $7K or so), if I could have collected it at all. It just wasn't worth it. I'd won, and that was good enough.

That TRACS would entertain accrediting this thing says more about TRACS than it does...this thing. Frankly, I couldn't care less.

 

No, that wasn’t my argument. Just that if you can afford Charisma’s stated prices, you can do better and not have to play the recognition guessing game.

 

I suppose, but even then with options in SA and elsewhere, I don’t see that gap being very big.

 

Frankly, if I had to choose between Charisma and UCN/Azteca, I would choose UCN/Azteca. UCN/Azteca is less than a third the cost of Charisma and both are recognized Universities in their countries of origin (Nicaragua and Mexico respectively).

As an aside, I am not keen on the name "Charisma" for a University.

 

"Charisma University" sounds like some sort of pick up artist program being monetized by a YouTube (sorry, we recent discovered my son was watching these and, for purposes of re-training, the missus and I watched them and now my inner monologue is being narrated by Dan Bacon).

 

Charisma U. IS on YouTube - has a channel. I don't think I should be doing SEO for them so you'll have to find the url yourself. But be sure not to confuse them with "Charisma on Command." Different org.

 

Alas, I am also familiar with Charisma on Command. The younger Neuhaus had quite the prolific playlist...

 

To Western ears the solution is very often as simple as a little Google translate.

Charisma University sounds odd to us.

Charis University? Boom.

 

The statement is not troubling. YOU are troubled with that statement. If the statement were troubling, then everyone would be troubled, and most aren't because they haven't chosen to be troubled.

 

From what you said, I figured he might. Ingenious and enterprising lad, I'm sure. "One to watch," as they say. I've no doubt you'll agree. Say - "The Charismatics." Weren't they a Motown group, back in the day? They should have been! Nope, they're here. Different kind of music.