new career opportunties

National accreditation takes two forms. One is programmatic and the other institutional. Programmatic accreditation is the recognition of degree programs within schools. This is also called professional accreditation. This is important, even vital, in some professions, especially those requiring licensure.

Institutional accreditation is done by several national accreditors, including the DETC. These associations accredit entire schools, usually focusing on a particular type of school. TRACS focuses on religious schools, DETC on distance schools, etc.

Regional accreditation (there are 6, not 5, regionals) is the most commonly understood and expected form of accreditation. National accreditation done by agencies accrediting entire schools may not be as acceptable to employers; it certainly isn't as acceptable to admissions officials as is regional accreditation.

Finally, it is difficult to generalize about those "marginal" schools you mention. Personally, I would rather have a properly-issued Ph.D. from the CEU (about which there is no question regarding recognition, GAAP, etc.) than one from a legitimate, unaccredited school like CCU. I, in turn, would rather have a CCU Ph.D. than one from Berne--I do not believe degrees from schools like Berne and the newly-named Columbia Commonwealth will be treated as comparable. I even have doubts in this area about the doctorates to be issued by the CEU.

Remember, GAAP is a label applied to a concept and a practice. It is not a standard--like accreditation--that is recognizable by all. A school might technically meet GAAP and yet see its degrees rejected roundly.

Helpful in such a situation would be an evaluation by a credible foreign credentials evaluation agency. This would, for example, lay to rest many of the questions surrounding CEU-issued degrees earned through MIGS.

Rich Douglas

 

Thank You Rich, That was very informative
Enjoy your day.

Timmy.

 

"I think unaccredited and accredited by a private organization are one and the same[..]"

Karma,

Last I checked, the regional accrediting associations *were* private organizations. Would that make RA and unaccredited schools "one and the same," too?

I give you an "A" for your passionate opposition to degree mills. But as George Washington once said: "When visiting the sick, do not presently play the physician unless you are knowing therein." And passion over a particular topic doesn't render you "knowing therein."

I, for one, would love to hear specifics about your experiences among the "less than wonderful." Vague references, generalities, and anonymity aren't a recipe for success anywhere besides politics.

Have a nice day.

(P.S.: I've been a working law enforcement officer for more than 10 years. I've had threats of every possible variety made against me, from threats of legal action to threats of violence. And quite frankly, I'm not the least bit concerned about somebody tracking me down by way of DegreeInfo.com and carrying them out. Sorry, that argument just doesn't wash.)