I received the following e-mail from WASC: "We are in contact with Touro College, the parent of TUI, and are well aware of the situation. Our executive director will be meeting with the leaders of Touro College and the Middle States Association to work out a transition later this month. While it is true that accreditation takes a number of years, this applies for new institutions. TUI has been in operation for a number of years and already is accredited by the Middle States Association. It was recently visited and evaluated by a team with both Middle States and WASC representatives, so we are familiar with its operations. It thus will not be treated as a new institution but as an already accredited institution. The process to obtain WASC accreditation will therefore not take multiple years but should take less than a year once Touro College has initiated the process. The meeting with Touro College later his month is intended to set into motion the process for that." I hope this responds to your inquiry. Sincerely, Barbara Nagai Visit Process Manager Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities Western Association of Schools and Colleges
I received a similar e-mail today from Mr. Ralph Wollf, an executive director at WASC's Senior College Commission. The line, "The process to obtain WASC accreditation will therefore not take multiple years but should take less than a year..." is especially stress relieving to current TUI students. I for one will continue to follow up with both WASC and TUI to ensure that the processes are in motion and remain that way until accreditation is granted. It's good to hear from the source(s) concerning the whole TUI accreditation issue and it's especially good to hear that it is good news. JJ TUI Student
Phew!!! Why did TUI students have to hear this from a third party instead of from TUI? They really need a newsletter or something. I recommend TUI students write to school leadership and express their desire be kept informed--not just about accreditation but whats's going on in general. In my opinion, such a rag would do nothing but strengthen the relationship the school has with its students.
For what it is worth, I did contact TUI before WASC and a Ms. Wei Ren (I believe the name is correct) told me basically the same thing WASC did, I just wanted confirmation from WASC. However, you do have to find out issues and potential problems with TUI third hand and dig for information. A newsletter sounds like a great idea.
I receeived this last week from WASC, looks like they are on trtack!: I have now got further information on TUI. We are in contact with Touro College, the parent of TUI, and are well aware of the situation. Our executive director will be meeting with the leaders of Touro College and the Middle States Association to work out a transition later this month. While it is true that accreditation takes a number of years, this applies for new institutions. TUI has been in operation for a number of years and already is accredited by the Middle States Association. It was recently visited and evaluated by a team with both Middle States and WASC representatives, so we are familiar with its operations. It thus will not be treated as a new institution but as an already accredited institution. The process to obtain WASC accreditation will therefore not take multiple years but should take less than a year once Touro College has initiated the process. The meeting with Touro College later this month is intended to set into motion the process for that.
What's going to happen to Ph.D. programs? Perhaps one of conditions to have WASC accredited TUI is that TUI needs to discontinue its Ph.D. programs altogether. What do you think?
Re: What's going to happen to Ph.D. programs? This is what I think... I think we should not speculate. The Ph.D. program is shaping up really well and getting tougher every month. It is here to stay and TUI's Ph.D. program is among the best in the DL market. Eli
Things are not always as simple as they seem, especially when it comes to WASC. See "Rebel With a Cause" to hear John Sperling's account of dealing with WASC before and after he established the University of Phoenix. During the 1980's WASC told National University not to expand to Las Vegas, NV. National did anyway, and WASC promptly put them on probation. Then WASC required them to sack the founder, David Chigos, sell off a lot of property they'd acquired, close the Vegas campus, and re-shuffle their management staff before WASC would lift the probation. National saw the inevitability of submitting to WASC's will and complied entirely. The probation was promptly lifted. (In retrospect, National seemed over-extened financially, but it was defying WASC with the move to Vegas that brought on all the changes.) Lesson: Don't mess with WASC. They're very powerful in state politics, as well as with the state higher education system. There's no telling what they'll require TUI to do. I'm guessing that TUI will be accredited by WASC, but will have to do some significant changes regarding residency requirements. We'll see....
[QUOTE I'm guessing that TUI will be accredited by WASC, but will have to do some significant changes regarding residency requirements. We'll see.... [/QUOTE] That would add an ironic twist to the phrase "taking the distance out of distance education". Furthermore, if your guess proves accurate, TUI will find it difficult to maintain its strong appeal to military students. I, for one, wouldn't have/couldn't have enrolled with TUI if it had even the slightest residency requirement when I signed up back in the winter 02 session.
WASC has had the reputation of being the least friendly accreditor, with regards to distance learning. However, that may be changing. La Sierra University was able recently to get two completely online masters degrees approved with only a little bloodshed. Of course, doctoral programs are not masters, so we will have to see what WASC requires of TUI. Hopefully, the steps will not involve damaging a very innovative program. I home that the TUI accreditation opens the door for more extensive distance learning opportuntities in the WASC region. Tony Pina Faculty, Cal State U. San Bernardino