National Accreditation Gets Slammed

Discussion in 'Accreditation Discussions (RA, DETC, state approva' started by Rich Douglas, Nov 13, 2008.

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  1. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

  2. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    Would DETC schools have the ability to have 25% of their instructors with terminal degrees (usually doctorates)? And since DETC doesn't accredit doctoral programs, then DETC schools would have to solicit RA doctoral holders to teach at their schools! :eek:
     
  3. airtorn

    airtorn Moderator

    I take it that my University of Oklahoma degree isn't good enough to teach Poli Sci at a CC in Florida since OU is NCA.

    Gah, SEC country... :rolleyes:
     
  4. Anthony Pina

    Anthony Pina Active Member

    One weakness of this article is that the reporter does not make much of an effort to distinguish for-profit regionally accredited universities from their nationally accredited counterparts. I work in a rather unusual system that includes a regionally accredited (SACS) university and two small nationally accredited (ACICS) colleges. Although ACICS now requires faculty teaching general education courses to have a masters degree, the degree requirements for other disciplines are, indeed lower than SACS.

    Airtorn: "I take it that my University of Oklahoma degree isn't good enough to teach Poli Sci at a CC in Florida since OU is NCA."

    Tony: Another weakness in the article. I'm sure that he meant was "Florida Community College at Jacksonville and most Florida public institutions won't hire instructors if they don't have a REGIONALLY-accredited degree."

    I would dare say that someone with a graduate degree from University of Chicago or Northwestern (both NCA) would be qualified to teach that subject at a Florida Community College :)
     
  5. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    DETC includes schools with doctoral programs in its accreditation. Not Ph.D. programs, but other doctorates.
     
  6. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    DETC accredits some doctoral programs? Where? I was under the impression that some DETC schools were awarding doctoral degrees, but that their DETC accreditation was only through the Masters level.
     
  7. Tireman 44444

    Tireman 44444 Well-Known Member

    My program, Doctor of Arts in Social Sciences at Harrison-Middleton University, is accredited by DETC. At least I thought so.
     
  8. -kevin-

    -kevin- Resident Redneck


    http://www.detc.org/quickfacts.html

    "Recognitions:

    U.S. Secretary of Education: First Recognized: 1959 Last Reviewed: 2006 Next Review: 2011

    Present Scope of Recognition:
    “The accreditation of postsecondary institutions in the United States that offer degree programs primarily by the distance education method Up to and including the professional doctoral degree, and are specifically certified by the agency as accredited for Title IV purposes; and the accreditation of postsecondary institutions in the United States not participating in Title IV that offer programs primarily by the distance education method up through the professional doctoral degrees.”"


    but look at this on the same page:

    "Council for Higher Education Accreditation:

    First Recognized: 1997 (charter member) Last Reviewed: 2001 Next Review: 2011

    Present Scope of Recognition:
    The accreditation of higher learning institutions that offer programs of study that are delivered primarily by distance (51 percent or more) and award credentials through the master’s and first professional degrees. The Distance Education and Training Council Accrediting Commission will not accept applications from institutions that award a degree beyond the master’s level, e.g., a doctor’s degree, including academic doctorates (e.g., Ph.D) or doctorates in professional fields (e.g., Ed.D).

    *Please Note: The Commission's scope may differ from U.S. Secretary of Education's and CHEA's."
     
  9. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    Here are some DETC doctorate programs:

    Doctor of Education
    Doctor of Arts
    http://www.chumsci.edu/

    Doctor of education
    http://www.taftu.edu/WHTU/index.htm

    Doctor of Business Administration
    http://www.umtweb.edu

    Doctorate in Education
    http://www.aspen.edu/edd/index.htm

    DBA
    http://www.columbiasouthern.edu/degree/business/doctor/business/

    DPT
    http://www.usa.edu/
     
  10. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    Thanks for pointing that out. I had to read the website a couple of times to understand it.

    The DETC website says that the U.S. Secretary of Education recognizes the accreditation of post-secondary institutions in the United States that offer degree programs, up to and including the professional doctoral degree. However, this does not appear to indicate that DETC accredits doctoral degrees of any sort.

    The DETC website specifically says that the present scope of DETC recognition is through the masters degree. It specifically says that DETC will not accept applications from institutions that award degrees beyond the master’s level, including doctoral degrees such as the PhD, EdD and others.

    Thus, if the DETC website is accurate, then DETC does not accredit doctoral degrees of any sort. That's not to say that some DETC schools aren't offering doctoral degrees; it's simply saying that the doctoral degrees aren't DETC accredited, even if the masters degrees are. :eek:

    If these DETC schools are implying that their doctoral degrees are DETC accredited, then it seems disingenuous.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 14, 2008
  11. Tireman 44444

    Tireman 44444 Well-Known Member

    Ok, help me out here. I am a little slow you know. The DETC does not recognize my future DA? Tell me that is not so.


    Thus, if the DETC website is accurate, then DETC does not accredit doctoral degrees of any sort. That's not to say that some DETC schools aren't offering doctoral degrees; it's simply saying that the doctoral degrees aren't DETC accredited, even if the masters degrees are.

    If these DETC schools are implying that their doctoral degrees are DETC accredited, then it seems disingenuous


    Then I am WASTING my time?
     
  12. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member


    Email the Director of DETC Michael Lambert. His email is: [email protected] He usually emails back right away. I am thinking the website has not been updated.


    As far as I know, DETC has authority to confer doctoral level degrees.


    Abner
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 14, 2008
  13. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    It depends on what you want to use a doctoral degree for. What are your plans?

    I'm disturbed that some people have come on this website and adamantly indicated that DETC does accredit doctoral degrees because this misleads many many many innocent viewers and it points them down a path that they really don't want to go. It causes misinformed, innocent people to spend hard earned cash and precious time on a degree that will not provide them with the utility that they truly desire. Many people are unknowingly duped and that bothers me to no end.

    If the DETC website is incorrect, then it needs to be updated. If it's correct, then its disturbing. However, I don't recollect hearing about DETC offering doctoral accreditation. We shall see...
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 14, 2008
  14. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member


    I really don't like the tone of your post. It is obviously directed at me. Your inference that I am purposely trying to mislead people is bothersome. I advised Tireman to check directly with the DETC director. My comment states "As far as I know DETC has authority to confer Doctoral level degrees". This has been discussed many, many times on this forum. We will await the answer from Mr. Lambert.

    Abner
     
  15. Tireman 44444

    Tireman 44444 Well-Known Member

    Well, I was told by the accreditation officer at my college that I will get to wear the doctoral regalia, recieve doctoral pay and be able to use the DA in professional circles while representing my college. He told me that because the THECB recognizes it, my college will do the same. Now, my college ( at this time) will not pay for my tuition. The stipulation is that the employee has to be accepted and enrolled in an RA doctoral program. Harrison-Middleton is DETC and will not count. I will tell you that the board that oversees this thought long and hard before denying me. I am thinking about trying again ( as the due date for Spring is December 1). The only thing they can tell me is no.
     
  16. c.novick

    c.novick New Member

    From the DETC website:

    http://www.detc.org/quickfacts.html

    Recognitions:

    U.S. Secretary of Education: First Recognized: 1959 Last Reviewed: 2006 Next Review: 2011

    Present Scope of Recognition:
    “The accreditation of postsecondary institutions in the United States that offer degree programs primarily by the distance education method Up to and including the professional doctoral degree, and are specifically certified by the agency as accredited for Title IV purposes; and the accreditation of postsecondary institutions in the United States not participating in Title IV that offer programs primarily by the distance education method up through the professional doctoral degrees.”


    Q. If an institution offers a Doctoral-level degree program, may it apply for accreditation?
    A. 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.
     
  17. c.novick

    c.novick New Member

    Also from the DETC website:

    http://www.detc.org/theaccrediting.html#rec

    Policies, Procedures and Standards

    The Commission voted to give final adoption to the following changes (these are effective June 7, 2008):

    C.9. Policy on Degree Programs - definition of Professional Doctorate

    List of Professional Doctoral Degrees Acceptable for DETC Accreditation

    The DETC wishes to exercise its scope of activity in the area of professional doctoral degree accreditation in a responsible manner. It also believes that certain professional doctoral degrees are not within its scope of activity. It therefore reserves the right to limit its scope of activity in reviewing professional doctoral degrees to the kinds of institutions and the types of programs for which it feels adequate public acceptance exists, appropriate distance education standards have been developed, and which it believes it has the competence to evaluate properly.

    The Accrediting Commission will accept applications for only the following professional doctoral degrees for DETC accreditation:

    Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

    Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

    Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

    Doctor of Occupational Therapy (DOT)

    Doctor of Arts (specified fields) (DA)

    Doctor of Science (specified fields) (DSc)

    Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)

    Doctor of Public Administration (DPA)
     
  18. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member


    As I thought. Thanks C.novick.


    Abner
     
  19. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

  20. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    That was the case for the longest time, but that's now been changed within the last year or so. Now, the DETC may accredit professional doctorates, such as Aspen University's www.aspen.edu EdD, Columbia Southern University's www.columbiasouthern.edu DBA, Harrison Middleton University's www.chumsci.edu DA and EdD University of Management and Technology's www.umtweb.edu DBA, and Taft University's www.taft.edu EdD.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 14, 2008

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