DEAC's Ph.D. Accreditation?

The University of Fairfax offers Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering (URL: https://ufairfax.edu/ph-d-in-computer-science-and-engineering/), the institution is accredited by DEAC. I could not find any information on whether DEAC is now accrediting Ph.D. degree. According to DEAC's website, the University of Fairfax is permitted to issue Doctor of Information Assurance, Doctor of Business Administration, and Doctor of Software Engineering. Does anyone know if the University of Fairfax allows issuing a degree that is recognized by its accrediting agency?

BTW, its Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering costs $1,114.00 per credit, which is $69,068.00 for tuition alone.

 

Ironically, Malwarebytes blocked the website because of a trojan horse.

 

I don't think anything as changed on DEAC's end.

If an institution offers a Doctoral-level degree program, may it apply for accreditation?

Yes. The Commission will accept applications for accreditation from institutions offering a Doctoral degree program, so long as it is a Professional Doctoral degree, e.g. a Doctor of Business Administration or a Doctor of Education. If there is doubt about what qualifies as a professional doctoral degree it is best to check with the Commission staff before applying for accreditation.

 

The University of Fairfax has been accredited by the DEAC for a number of years now. It's been my understanding for quite some time that they don't allow PhD programs. If this is a new program, it had to be approved by the DEAC before it could be offered and that approval is communicated through public notice at the DEAC website. If that didn't happen, then either the DEAC has made some policy changes or the school is taking a chance.

 

From the horse's mouth... DEAC. PhD Pilot Study procedures. Copied by me in full, because I couldn't get an accurate URL for you (doc. opened). The last couple of sentences indicate that the institution must clearly indicate it's a pilot. Didn't see this on U. Fairfax site. Maybe I missed it.

"PhD Pilot Study Procedures

Thank you for your interest in the DEAC PhD Pilot Study. DEAC currently reviews programs at the professional doctoral level and is exploring the possibility of expanding its scope of accreditation activity to include the review of PhD programs. To provide some historical background, in 2009 DEAC received approval from U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to include the review of professional doctoral degrees within its scope of accreditation review. The PhD degree level, however, was not included in this scope. This pilot will help DEAC determine whether it is appropriate to pursue the inclusion of PhD programs within the scope of its accreditation activities and formally petition CHEA and USDE. Your participation will support the important work of testing and refining appropriate accreditation standards and procedures.

The PhD is a research-oriented doctoral program designed to prepare students for scholarly work in their profession. The PhD emphasizes the acquisition, organization, utilization, and dissemination of knowledge. A PhD program must afford the student the opportunity for substantial mastery of the subject matter. The PhD curricula includes exposure to and study of the theory, literature, and methodology of a significant field of study and follows a sequential development of research skills leading to the attainment of an independent research capacity. PhD dissertations require original research that contributes to new knowledge in the chosen field of study. DEAC will examine the quality of PhD programs submitted to the pilot study within the context of the aforementioned description.

The eligibility criteria and procedures for submitting an application to the DEAC PhD Pilot Study are outlined below:

1. Only DEAC-accredited institutions may apply to participate in the study.
   
   
2. Potential applicants must be in good standing with DEAC.
   
   
3. Potential applicants must have successfully completed 1 renewal cycle.
   
   
4. Potential applicants must demonstrate that they have been enrolling students in a related-field graduate level program for at least two years.
   
   
5. Potential applicants inform DEAC Staff of the institution’s intention to participate in the pilot study. Interested parties will be asked to participate in a pre-screening conference call prior to submitting the Application for the PhD Pilot Program.
   
   
6. Institutions submit the application to demonstrate the institution’s capacity to offer a PhD program and experience offering graduate level programs of study and educational offerings information sheet (EOI) toDEAC Staff.

1. Institutions remit the $500 non-refundable application fee payment to DEAC by check or wire transfer.
   
   
2. DEAC Staff reviews the application. If the institution is able to move forward in the process, the institution will receive a letter outlining the next steps, to include a more comprehensive assessment of the program.

If the institution is able to move forward:

1. DEAC will select 50% of the program courses from the EOI submitted with the application for review. The institution will receive a memo indicating the courses required for submission and the fee.
   
   
2. Institutions submit the Educational Offerings Report – Pilot PhD Program and requisite curricular materials for review by an off-site subject specialist.
   
   
3. If the program includes an in-residence component, the In-Residence Program Companion document (and separate fee payment) must also be submitted.
   
   
4. The institution will receive an invoice for the curricular review: $2,000 base fee + $100 per course.
   
   
5. The institution will receive the subject specialist report and have the opportunity to respond to any “partially meets” or “does not meet” findings by the off-site subject specialist.
   
   
6. The DEAC Academic Review Committee will consider the entire record of the institution’s submission to the PhD pilot.
   
   
7. The DEAC Staff will communicate the results of the Academic Review Committee’s assessment to the institution following the committee meeting. If approved, the institution may launch the program.
   
   
8. The institution will receive an on-site visit six months to one year after implementing the program and enrolling students.

Institutions are reminded that the DEAC scope of recognition with the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation is not yet extended to include PhD programs. The pilot project will contribute to DEAC’s application for an expansion of scope, anticipated for 2023. It is therefore crucial that participating institutions clearly disclose to students that any PhD program potentially approved by DEAC is part of a pilot project and is not included within its scope of DEAC accreditation or USDE and CHEA recognition.

Thank you for your consideration. Should you have any questions, please contact DEAC Staff.

 

At the risk of repeating myself, here's the 2nd last para again.

"Institutions are reminded that the DEAC scope of recognition with the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation is not yet extended to include PhD programs. The pilot project will contribute to DEAC’s application for an expansion of scope, anticipated for 2023. It is therefore crucial that participating institutions clearly disclose to students that any PhD program potentially approved by DEAC is part of a pilot project and is not included within its scope of DEAC accreditation or USDE and CHEA recognition."

So, this PhD program definitely appears to be presently outside the scope of DEAC accreditation. If it IS presently approved by DEAC, it's as part of a pilot. Again, where did U. Fairfax post notice of the pilot? Even with such notice, this is a degree the school's accreditation does not yet extend to. DEAC makes that perfectly clear.

At best, it looks to me like a $69,000 gamble. I'm sure everybody HOPES the school's DEAC accreditation will extend to the PhD in time for the first graduates. A lot of things could happen by then...

 

Great info, Johann. I never knew about the PhD Pilot program. The lack of disclosure from UOF is odd. The lack of public notice from the DEAC regarding it is odd as well, unless they don't make public notices for pilot programs, or I've just missed it.

I did see something in a DEAC public notice back on March 1st, 2021 regarding three Doctorates from UOF. None were mentioned as PhDs. The notice is listed under January 29th, 2021, but it was posted March 1st.

 

Agreed. It's ALL odd. I note you, too, read DEAC's "actions" page. I read the last two years' worth - nothing on this PhD pilot. Maybe DEAC is just making sure we're awake at DI. Hell, yeah! WE ARE!

Hello, USDoE? Hello, CHEA?...