Ryokan College fails to obtain Candidacy status from WASC

Discussion in 'Accreditation Discussions (RA, DETC, state approva' started by Jan, Aug 7, 2017.

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  1. Jan

    Jan Member

    Ryokan College applied for regional accreditation in January 2017 but was recently not granted RA Candidacy status from WASC. Previously, they initiated the application process with DEAC but subsequently dropped this quest and applied for WASC RA.

    The impression is that this school, as well as some other unaccredited California schools, do not have their " "heart's" into the accreditation process and are merely going through the motions of attaining accreditation.
     
  2. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    For more than 40 years, I have followed matters at WISR, the Western Institute for Social Research* and continue to be impressed. They were well along with the ACICS process when ACICS imploded. DEAC was not encouraging, but WASC was, so they are trying to raise what for them would be a very large amount of money to follow that path. I wish them well
    ___________
    * wise.edu I was on their Board for a year or so, but doing the job
    they rightfully expected was extremely time-consuming -- time that
    I simply did not have.
     
  3. KnowledgeSeeker

    KnowledgeSeeker New Member

    It's a shame because Ryokan College is a really good school. They were one of the last California approved schools left to get accredited. They should have changed the name to Ryokan University or some other Californian name, to sound like a legitimate school. I realize they have a philosophy but without a revamp, nothing is possible. Small guy always loses but at least they tried. Feel sorry for current students.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 31, 2017
  4. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Too much negativity KS. We've seen schools move up the food chain and become accredited. I don't know why Ryokan missed the mark but the fact that they did miss the mark suggests that your first statement, that they are "a really good school" is actually incorrect. If they were a really good school they'd be accredited. That's the whole point.
     
  5. Jan

    Jan Member

    Based on the feedback from this school, they failed to attain RA Candidacy status due to their not possessing the requisite financial standing required by WASC. Ryokan states they're a not-for-profit-school and therefore do not have the financial resources possessed by for-profit-schools.

    Does this imply that Ryokan is a bad school? Imo, in terms of their educational teaching process and outcomes, no. However, it does appear that they are procrastinating and attempting to evade the accreditation process to the last moment, that is being imposed upon them by the California Board to attain accreditation by 2021.

    It will be interesting to observe whether they followup with DEAC, and if so ( they previously started this process with DEAC but dropped it when deciding to seek WASC accreditation), whether they will follow through until accredited.
     
  6. heirophant

    heirophant Well-Known Member

    I've always been fond of Ryokan and have always considered them one of the better California approved schools.

    Here are the latest 2016 Psychboard results broken down by school.

    http://www.psychology.ca.gov/applicants/exams/2016_statsbyschl.pdf

    As currently constituted, there are two exams, a California Psychology Law and Ethics Examination (CPLEE), and a Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).

    In 2016, Ryokan had 3 graduates take the CPLEE, all of whom passed (a 100% pass rate). Sounds pretty good so far. But...

    10 took the EPPP and only 3 passed (a 30% pass rate). Pretty bad, one of the worst showings of any school. Not the absolute worst though.

    4 Capella graduates took the EPPP and 1 passed (25%).

    3 UC Berkeley graduates took the EPPP and only two passed (67%)

    I didn't see any IUGS test takers.
     
  7. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Many knowledgeable people have spoken highly of Ryokan. So many, that it has be a very good school. No other option. I, too, hope they can sort out their accreditation issue. I don't want to see them leave for Panama... :shock:

    J.

    PS - I almost wrote it MUST be a good school ... but I remembered all the bad MUST U. jokes, just in time. :smile:
     
  8. johnnysack

    johnnysack New Member

    What happens to the current students seeking licensure in California as a psychologist? The California board of Psychology requires all schools be regionally accredited by 2020. Ryokan might be forced to drop the Psy.D program and go with the MFT only route (until that board decides to change it's requirements). I don't see anyone accepting current students as transfers at other colleges . Someone needs to step in and help enrolled students.
     
  9. analysiis

    analysiis New Member

    hey

    it is ridiculous that you point out some one's negativeness. The whole point of having forums is to express yourself. You do not have the right to bully someone. Just because you are a veteran for the degree info website does not make you the leader of the positive and negative movement on this website. I feel your statements, make me sick, in this discussion. I apologize to the person who wrote his or her opinion. I always appreciate the info you provide Kizmet but please try to encourage expression rather not a dictatorship. Please let people speak their minds. I am so disappointed in you. All the respect I had for has been flush down the drain.
     
  10. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    I am crushed
     
    Dustin likes this.
  11. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    1. This isn't a government organization, so Constitutional protections don't apply.

    2. Who are you?
     
  12. Jan

    Jan Member

    I was under the impression that Ryokan made application for accreditation with DEAC, BUT in fact they haven't, and initially have to undergo a review by the California Bureau for Post Seondary Education, which will take a significant amount of time and if successful and approved, will only then be eligible to apply for DEAC accreditaion. So in fact, taking the best case scenario, Ryokan MAY be accredited in late 2019!

    As mentioned previously, it appears that schools such as Ryokan, and other unaccredited California schools, have been very ambivalent about seeking any accreditation, resulting in procrastination meeting the deadlines imposed by the California Bureau for unaccredited schools to attain legal accreditation. This is really too bad because Ryokan appears to have a credible doctoral program and a unique delivery system of live online interactive courses, that distinguishes it from other distance doctoral programs in Psychology.
     
  13. Penelope Langdon

    Penelope Langdon New Member

    I am a Ryokan graduate. Twelve students including myself left another school ABD. We were in a depth psychology school that could not seem to facilitate the dissertation process. Several other cohorts followed us. Ryokan created a special on-line year long program for us (We live near San Francisco). All our classes at Ryokan were clinically oriented. We received a fine education that I feel gives me a real edge. We all knew the DSM, psych. meds. and CBT by the time we graduated. The coursework was rigorous. We had a fine faculty, supportive administrative staff and an over all positive experience. I am licensed, and have no trouble earning a living. I have both a private practice and a position with a 501-3C community mental health clinic. Some insurance companies will not credential me, but many do. I like that Ryokan is a non-profit. It lends them an ethical air. I was always a successful student, so I could have gone elsewhere, but when I looked at the curricula, Ryokan seemed to have it all. I am proud of this school and would recommend it.
     
  14. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    It's a very nice story. However, none of it changes the fact that Ryokan remains an unaccredited school. I'm uncertain about whether graduates such as yourself are eligible to practice in California but I believe that grads may not practice anywhere else based on this degree. This is true regardless of the alleged quality of their program(s). I believe their website says that they are applying for DEAC accreditation. Assuming that's true, I wish them the best of luck.
     
  15. Jan

    Jan Member

    Kizmet, you are absolutely correct! I too wish Ryokan the best of luck.

    However, as I noted in a previous post on this thread, it's my impression that Ryokan appears ambivalent regarding obtaining accreditation, national or regional. Initially they applied for DEAC accreditation, then decided that national accreditation was insufficient, resulting in dropping their application and applying for regional accreditation, which they failed to obtain due to their not meeting the financial reserve requirement of WASC.

    So, although their website indicates that they are once again applying for DEAC accreditation, in fact, they are presently not ready to do so until their course curriculums, which they have modified/updated, are aproved by the California Bureau For Post Secondary Education! If/when they receive this approval, they will be able to be considered for accreditation by DEAC.

    This back and forth scenario has been going on for a significant period of time, leading to the impression that this school is not too happy with California's requirement that all unaccredited schools in their state obtain legitimate accreditation by 2021. What this pattern of wavering means for the future of this school remains to be seen.
     
  16. Psych

    Psych New Member

    BEWARE

    If you are seeking a PsyD from this school, you are risking time and money. People on here are coming from a good place and I assume with no bad intentions, but nobody has mentioned the changes in California law.

    If you were in the program prior to December 31, 2016, then you're grandfathered in and the laws do not apply to you. If you started the doctorate program after January 1, 2017, then the new laws DO apply to you. California-approved schools MUST be fully accredited by 2020 under one recognized accrediting agency under the United States Department of Education. Please look at the Board of Psychology's website because they have a flowchart that will guide you in your decision to go to a California-approved school that does or does not yet have accreditation. There are very strict timelines and dates based on when you started the program and when you get your degree conferred.

    There IS a difference between nationally and regionally accreditation and this DOES make a difference as to whether or not you'll be able to sit for licensure in California.

    I have often used forums to inform my decisions and so I am paying this forward. If this information helps you, please remember to pay it forward in the future. There are a very small number of California-approved schools that are already regionally accredited, which satisfies the licensure requirements in California. Please do your research before asking the schools because they will be less inclined to provide you the same amount of information that you can simply search and find for yourself.
     
  17. Psych

    Psych New Member

  18. leaner

    leaner New Member

    Thanks, Psych, and Jan!
    Does anyone have an update on this college? I am confused so any student that has registered with this school after Jan. 2017 can't get licensed as a psychologist in California?
     
  19. newsongs

    newsongs Active Member

    Psych, I would
    Pscyh, I would love to have a link to the info about sitting for the psychology exam- can you supply it? Does this mean if you have a state approved degree in CA prior to a certain date, you can still take t
    he exam after doing your hours? Thank you for any information.
     
  20. Psych

    Psych New Member

    Hey newsongs and leaner! I highly suggest you spend time on the psychology.ca.gov website. Their list of links on their home page will give you all the updates you need. Here is a link to the summed up version of the changing laws regarding schools needing regional accreditation.

    https://psychology.ca.gov/laws_regs/sb1193.shtml
     

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