schiller

This thread seems to have gotten away from Schiller.

Regarding ACICS vs DETC, I think that they are both pretty similar.

Both of them share the same kind of utility defects compared to RA and both of them accredit the same kind of vocationally-oriented schools that are noticably light on scholarship.

Both of them started out as (and in some sense still are) specialized accreditors. ACICS' specialty was vocational business and job-skills colleges in things like dental-assisting. DETC did those 'learn a skill in your spare time' correpondence courses.

Both of them are currently trying to move upmarket, so to speak, re-positioning themselves as full-service general institutional accreditors for universities. That's long been the regional accreditors' turf, and acceptance is imperfect so far.

Both ACICS and DETC are trying to break into accrediting doctoral programs, though both of them seem thoroughly unclear on the concept. None of their schools is really research productive. None of them ever seems to publish anything. They don't collaborate with the RA schools. Nobody ever discusses original work done at DETC or ACICS schools. Their lust to offer doctorates seems to be more a matter of offering a lucrative new product line than any desire to really become research universities.

Overall, I'd guess that ACICS is marginally better accepted than DETC. That's because ACICS is a larger accreditor and accredits more schools. And it's because DETC specializes in distance learning, while ACICS does mostly classroom programs. So ACICS doesn't suffer from whatever DL stigma still exists, and many people have heard of a few nearby ACICS schools (usually proprietary vocational schools) while DETC typically doesn't have much local presence.

 

I said: "ACICS is even more raw, still trying to develop its standards. (It's standards for accrediting bachelor's degrees were drawn up by its one big school that awards them, and it is only now piloting the accreditation of master's degrees)."

This is wrong. I confused ACICS with ACCSCT. Sorry.

 

What about the ACCSCT

So, what about the ACCSCT? I didn't see them on the PDF that Gregg attached to his post, but I do recall seeing them on the list of searchable accreditors on the CHEA website. Are they or are they not recognized by the CHEA? Anybody know?

 

Re: What about the ACCSCT

They are recognized by both the Dept. of Education and CHEA.

ACCSCT accredits 777 schools accordingto the CHEA database. Most of them are proprietary non-degree programs in things like automobile mechanics and machine shop. But ACCSCT does accredit some schools up to the bachelors level.

A couple of schools that I like here in the SF Bay Area are ACCSCT accredited: Expression College for Digital Arts in Emeryville (cutting edge, they offer bachelors degrees and used to be on my CA-approved favorites list), and the rather prestigious California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. The CCA only offer an associate degree, but most of their applicants already have at least bachelors degrees, making it one of the few (de-facto though not necessarily) postgraduate associate degrees out there.

But the point isn't really the degree in either case. Students are more interested in building a digital art portfolio or learning to be a high-powered restaurant chef. (And developing industry contacts in both cases.)

 

Re: Re: What about the ACCSCT

Yeah, but is it EASY?

 

Re: What about the ACCSCT

The PDF file shouldn't disagree with the CHEA database or what's in its directory listings... unless, of course, ACCSCT was only just added to the database or directory listings, since the PDF file was created.

Lemmee go look...

[time passes]

Weird. ACCSCT is not listed on any of CHEA's directory pages. I didn't go look at the PDF file, but I'll assume RobbCD's right and that it's not there, either. But, indeed, if one looks at the CHEA database and clicks on the little down arrow at the right end of the drop-down selector field, it's listed there; and if one selects it, but doesn't click on anything else, and then clicks on the "Search for Institution" button, one finds the aforementioned 777 institutions listed.

I'd chalk this up to ACCSCT not being CHEA approved, but being USDE approved... except that that PDF file is supposed to list both, with an indicator of whether it's CHEA approved, or USDE approved, or both.

The CHEA database, I've noticed, has undergone a lot of changes lately. Maybe most people haven't noticed yet, but there are significant changes to the site's behavior; to the directory listings (new additions, moving of some accreditors from "national" to the "specialized/professional" directory; expansion/shuffling/renaming of some things on the regional accreditors listing; and a seeming attempt by the CHEA web site and its database to take-up where the OPE database has been weak. The accreditors that are not CHEA approved, but are USDE approved, are now in the CHEA database... but hadn't been before.

I think we're seeing it as it's being done... which may mean that certain parts of the web site have not yet caught-up with others.

 

Re: Real....

Having grown up in Heidelberg, I can say that, indeed, it is a real school and, at least in the 1980s, enjoyed a reputation as a somewhat expensive private school.