The American Public University System resigned its DETC accreditation

I had actually heard some other unconfirmed information that may support the decision to resign DETC. With the recent regulations requiring things like the publication of gainful employment statistics, etc., the requirements for Title IV were tightened up significantly - these requirements could be where the requirement to have to make a choice on which body's accreditation to use came from.

Also, APUS is pursuing an aggressive path in getting programmatic accreditation in several areas and I had heard (also unconfirmed) that the dual-accreditation has raised some eyebrows with some of the specialized accrediting bodies. I do know that several programs are being overhauled to meet programmatic accreditation requirements to include an examination on how liberal transfer requirements should be in meeting core curriculum areas in these programs (public health and public admin. being the ones that I am aware of).

Having done some work in my program to help with both the RA and DETC re-accreditation visits, I can honestly say that the RA process is much more comprehensive and detailed. I think that Anthony is spot-on noting that there is not much more value added in having the additional DETC stamp.

 

As of June 2014, APUS/AMU has added a plethora of specialized program initialized accreditation's to further enhance the educational experience and to add to the end employment process for graduates. In truth, RA brought APUS in line with brick and mortar institutions and it also negated the need to have DETC as RA has a component for distance education and is far more rigorous than DETC. There are programs across the country that will not accept credits unless RA'd. In truth, diploma mills have been able to obtain DETC accreditation as it is mainly a paper chase and trail. In addition, APUS/AMU, in moving to initiate applied doctoral programs over the next few years, needed RA as a basic requirement.

 

No they haven't.

 

The DETC accreditation commission updates and improves the accreditation requirements.
As a result of updating their 2014 accreditation guide line some schools resigned and some simply failed to get re-accredited.

Some less then wonderful schools such as Barrington University newly named University of Atlanta tried, and after achieving initial DETC accreditation failed / resigned to get re-accredited in 2013.
UoA no longer accredited by DTEC.

As a result of requiring in 2014 for example instructors who are teaching technical classes to be licensed or certified in the field they are teaching.

Also there are updates to financial requirements etc.
Number of schools are loosing , lost DETC accreditation.

On the other side of debate if the university achieved RA and today RA universities offer degrees by DL then why should the university have redundant Institutional accreditation?

I agree 100% with Dr. R Douglass that DETC lost golden opportunity to become programmatic accreditor of DL programs at Universities. But that's another discussion.

 

While I do like the idea on its own, I believe Rich felt that this should be or should've been the DETC's only direction. I want the DETC to remain doing what it does. I feel they serve a very useful purpose. They've made some glaring mistakes in the past, but what is progress without a few bumps in the road? I think they have accredited some excellent degree programs, and I like the current leadership and some of the new policies they're working to solidify.