UNISA lets DETC lapse

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Vincey37, Jun 10, 2007.

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  1. Vincey37

    Vincey37 New Member

    As of March 31, 2007 UNISA is no longer DETC accredited.

    Interesting that this comes just as BYU Independent Study applies for DETC. One step forward, one step back.

    Maintaining DETC would have likely been an insignificant effort for UNISA. Did they find the utility of the additional accreditation that low?
     
  2. jagmct1

    jagmct1 New Member

    From what I heard from Michael Lambert (Excective Director of DETC) is that UNISA failed to meet DETC standards, failed to maintain contact with DETC and UNISA opted to discontinue accreditation with DETC. UNISA appears to have some internal administrative challenges going on at the present momement.
     
  3. BDev

    BDev New Member

    Thanks for clarifying that. Whenever you have an opportunity, it's good to shed light on ignorance.
     
  4. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    I've never really understood why UNISA and the Australians sought DETC accreditation in the first place.
     
  5. Vincey37

    Vincey37 New Member

    Somehow I doubt the executive director of DETC would tell us, "Oh, UNISA withdrew because they didn't think our brand was useful." :rolleyes:

    I question that an internationally recognized university serving 250,000 students has secret administrative problems so severe they cannot maintain DETC if they desire it.
     
  6. PaulC

    PaulC Member

    What facts are brought to light through speculation and conjecture.
     
  7. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator


    This makes perfect sense to me.
     
  8. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    In my conversations with another foreign university with DETC accreditation, I can say that they're concern is cost vs. benefits. They don't really value their involvement with DETC, and are questioning the cost and hassle. They did it to reach out to the U.S. market because DETC accreditation answers a common question--"Is it accredited?" Inquirers don't understand the complications and implications of their question, nor do they want to hear the explanation of how the school has equivalent recognition in its own country (and would be recognized here). DETC accreditation allows the school to answer "yes."

    Of course, any school has to look at the marginal costs and administrative requirements, compared to the marginal benefits gained by increased enrollments, if measureable.

    What is clear, finally, is that there seems to be little benefit from the association with the DETC community, nor with applying DETC's standards.
     

  9. My understanding in the case of some of the Australian universities was that they sought DETC accreditation to give them more prospect of attracting American students. I know there was more than one Australian university involved but the only one I can definitely recall was the University of New England (UNE) which has offered external courses for many years and has many distance students. I was talking to a staff member of UNE at a display and believed I mentioned the DETC accreditation, which had just been announced. I was told that one of the reasons for seeking DETC accreditation was that overseas prospective students almost always asked about accreditation. While UNE is a government institution and thoroughly legitimate, it was felt that saying "it is DETC accredited" would mean more to Americans. I think there was a thought too that American employers were more likely to pay costs for students attending a DETC accredited university because they would be more familiar with that situation. Whether the idea worked out, I have no idea.
     
  10. dlady

    dlady Active Member

    ‘Hassle’. A negative word. Hassle in maintaining accreditation standards could also be called rigor. What does come through is that being DETC accredited involves some rigor and some work.
     
  11. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    There's rigor and then there's demonstrating that rigor in a specific all-encompassing format. Accreditation is the latter, not the former, and as such it can definitely be a great big hassle.

    -=Steve=-
     
  12. dlady

    dlady Active Member

    Given my experiences in academia, I am not qualified to differentiate the two (and have often been wrong on both sides). I would humbly suggest that few others posses this qualification that I lack, and hence suggest that the negative connotations be avoided unless explicit evidence exists to support them.
     
  13. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    No. "Hassle" as in the trouble to fill out the paperwork, deal with the inspectors, and paying the fees. The rigor for a large research university isn't a problem, nor are DETC's standards.
     
  14. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member


    Hmmm. Interesting point. I've got a Ph.D. in higher ed and did my dissertation on accreditation issues. I've worked for several accredited universities, and my most recent comments reflect my conversations with officials at a DETC-accredited school pondering their continued involvement, and asking me for my advice.

    I hope I make the cut. ;)
     
  15. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    They don't understand the American accreditation system. They don't understand that DETC is a non prestigious accreditation that actually might hurt their business. I'm sure that UNISA lost more than one prospect customer because of the DETC accreditation, if a prospect student knows that he or she should avoid DETC then having it would actually hurt more that not having it. You are basically branding yourself at the bottom of the scale with the DETC brand so I think they might figured it out after years of using the wrong brand. Some Australian Schools know this and are pursuing the AACSB accreditation that might put them at the top of the brand list and not at the bottom as they are now with DETC.
     
  16. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    This assumes a great deal of ignorance on the part of some very large and established institutions of higher learning. I would like to see the evidence to support the notion that these universities blundered into their DETC relationships and "don't understand."

    I'd also like to see the support for this whopper: "I'm sure that UNISA lost more than one prospect customer because of the DETC accreditation." How are you sure? Or, if this is really just a bit of rhetorical license, what makes you think this?

    Finally, which "Australian Schools" know what? Do you have some indication that they specifically rejected DETC accreditation in favor of AACSB? (Not withstanding the fact that these two accrediting bodies serve utterly different types of schools.)

    I realize it's unfair to ask everyone to provide proof for everything they say. But these things are pretty definitively stated, and I'd like to see the support for them or the expertise of the person offering such. I see neither thus far.
     
  17. dlady

    dlady Active Member

    While I yield to your credentials and acknowledge your ability to make this distinction where I can not in this specific arena, I remain unconvinced that it is appropriate in this context. You may point out that convincing me given my complete lack of information and expertise in this area is not relevant to the conversation; however my gut tells me 'hassle' is not an adjective that applies to Universities and Accreditors at this level. it is a negative word used to support a business decision. I’m completely comfortable with you suggesting that the value proposition was not there, but assigning human qualities to institutions is a stretch beyond what my brain can make.
     
  18. dlady

    dlady Active Member

    This is perhaps the difference between an academic and a practitioner. For me, executing processes in the furtherance of desired output are related. “No” refers to a distinction that I can’t make, and ‘Hassle’ has negative connotations that I don’t feel are appropriate, it suggests a side to the argument as opposed to an objective point of view.

    But that is just me, and I’m a DETC and NCU shill for sure!
     
  19. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    The word choice was mine, as I felt it captured the "value proposition" (value vs. costs--costs consist of more than just financials). Feel free to use your own.
     
  20. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member


    Sigh. Welcome to Semanticsville. Pick up your thesarus on the way out.

    As for shilling for DETC and NCU, I know I've never referred to you that way. (Besides, one cannot "shill" if one's connection to the organization in question is out in the open.)

    Finally, I said "no" because I'm not speculating. I've talked to the school's officials.
     

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