Violation of Chapter 446E

http://www.hawaii.gov/dcca/ocp/statutes&rules/chapter446e.htm

Hawaii Department of Consumer Affairs


(f) No unaccredited institution shall disclose in any catalog, promotional material or written contract for instruction that it has applied for future accreditation. [L 1990, c 226, pt of §1; am L 1999, c 171, §6]


FROM AKAMAI WEBSITE


Akamai University is an example of a young, effective and developing university, which offers Certificate, Bachelor’s, Master’s and Ph.D. programs fully at a distance without required residencies. Akamai is not regionally accredited at this date but is preparing an initial submission for accreditation with the International Accreditation and Recognition Council (IARC). After finalizing this process Akamai University is planning to make application to GATE, Global Alliance Transnational Education and then to ICDE, International Council for Open and Distance Education

Akamai University was founded in 1998, as the International University of Professional Studies on the island of Maui, Hawaii. During 2000, the planning and development activities began which evolved toward the development of Akamai University. The University has as its mission the advancement of the human condition and the sustainability of the planet through superior quality education and research programs and proliferation of demonstration projects worldwide.

 

Not quite as cut and dried as the above appears. Their accreditation statement is rather straight-forward:

AKAMAI UNIVERSITY IS NOT ACCREDITED BY AN ACCREDITING AGENCY OR ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZED BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. Please note that in the United States, many licensing authorities require accredited degrees as the basis for eligibility for licensing. In some cases, accredited colleges may not accept transfer courses and degrees completed at unaccredited colleges, and some employers may require an accredited degree as a basis for eligibility for employment.


The statement you provide is from a journal, Journal for the Advancement of the Human Condition, that is on its website. Yes, I'm sure they're related, but somewhat less clearly:

http://www.akamaiuniversity.us/JournalArticles.html (toward the bottom).



Tom Nixon

 

Re: Re: Violation of Chapter 446E

From Chapter 446E;
§446E-2 Disclosures. (a) Any unaccredited institution shall disclose in all catalogs, promotional materials, and contracts for instruction, the fact that the institution is not accredited by any nationally recognized accrediting agency listed by the United States Secretary of Education. The disclosure shall be made in a type size as large or larger than any other text in the catalog, promotional material, or contract for instruction, excluding the name of the unaccredited institution, and shall be presented in a manner reasonably calculated to draw the attention of the reader. If the unaccredited institution includes in its catalogs, promotional materials, or contracts for instruction any other information relating in any manner to accreditation, or to accreditation by an agency not nationally recognized by the United States Secretary of Education, the disclosure required by this subsection shall be repeated on every page on which the information appears. Where the information is presented electronically, the disclosure shall be made directly preceding or following the information. The disclosure shall read as follows:

(Name of Degree Granting Institution) IS NOT ACCREDITED

BY AN ACCREDITING AGENCY
RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED STATES
SECRETARY OF EDUCATION.

Note: In the United States, many licensing authorities require accredited degrees as the basis for eligibility for licensing. In some cases, accredited colleges may not accept for transfer courses and degrees completed at unaccredited colleges, and some employers may require an accredited degree as a basis for eligibility for employment


AM I READING IT WRONGLY?

the disclosure required by this subsection shall be repeated on every page on which the information appears??

 

Re: Re: Re: Violation of Chapter 446E

Here is yet another convincing violation meant to deceive people of Vietnam.

http://www.undp.org.vn/mlist/cngd/072004/post8.htm

1) Akamai University has been evaluated as 1 of America’s top 50 online MBA programs by the leading management magazine in the U.S – Selling Power.

2) No disclaimer

3) United Nation Banner


UNDP Viet Nam Country Office 25-29 Phan Boi Chau, Ha Noi,
Viet Nam
Tel (84 4) 825-7495 Fax (84 4) 825-9267 Email [email protected]

 

It is unusual that the fax number listed at that location, for Akamai in Hawaii, is located in Spokane, Washington. It is a currently-working fax line; I just tried it.

 

(509) 693-5470

The Akamia fax number is (509) 693-5470. Google also finds that number at

• this page giving IUPS information (Dr. Douglass Capogrossi, contact person)
• this page giving IUPS information (Dr. Anthony Maranto, contact person)
• this document which seems to described resources in non-traditional medical training.

G

 

These links appear to be old as these programs no longer are associated with IUPS (as was stated in the Greenwich, IUPS, Akamai thread, Akamai programs were originally part of IUPS by are now separated).

I could not get to the UNDP link.

Cheers,
Tony

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Violation of Chapter 446E

Now there's your argument. Certainly that is a lie.



Tom Nixon

 

I was finally able to connect to the UNDP post (couldn’t get to it this morning). This post does not appear to be authorized by Akamai University or have gone through our institutional checks. It is not consistent with our policies and directives (at first glance it looks like an affiliate’s attempt to post information on their own). The date of the post is clearly after the Selling Power list issue was long resolved, so I am very disturbed by the claim that Akamai was one of the top 50 MBAs. This should not be (and the university had issued specific instructions to desist all claims to that end). As soon as the university office is open this morning, I will be in contact with the president. We will seek to get to the bottom of this behavior, halt it, and will seek to have the posting removed.

Respectfully,
Tony Maranto

 

Mr. Maranto pained excellent portrait of Akamai in his recent posts……the question remains if AKAMAI PRACTICING WHAT MR MARANTO PREACHING…??

Mr. Maranto, aren’t you the vice-president of Akamai University? Having that position you are equally liable for the wrong doings of Akamai University. It has always been the case with Hawaii universities operating overseas that the blame will put onto the agents or affiliates universities will wash their hands…

A decent thing to do would include refund of money to students enrolled in Vietnam for Akamai University due to deceptive and misleading promotions otherwise perhaps Akamai deserve to be sued by Hawaiian diploma mill terminator Mr. Brunton.

 

What exactly was the group working out of Spokane? Was that the Dixie Rannock (sp?)/ St Regis group?

 

Akamai lier??

Thanks for the effort to expose the tactics used by oversea agent in recruiting the student. Akamai is very clearly violating the law in Hawaii and also trying to mislead student by putting wrong information about the university in the promotion materials.

Now, we are waiting for the stern actions by Akamai and Mr Tony to get this issue resolved else Akamai good and clean record as well as Mr Tony personal reputation are gone and it is difficult for anybody to trust Akamai or Mr Tony anymore.

Finally, my claims in this forum is true and my worry of unaccredited university from US misleading student in oversea materialized despite many posting in forum by Mr Tony's protection of Akamai good record.

I am very sad about it and will definately post follow-up in this forum and write directly to Akamai and Mr Tony until all of us is make known what the corrective action of Akamai.

I think as what Mr Tony posted in this forum before, since Akamai can not control the operations of the oversea affiliate and they also do not make much money from them but more damages instead, it is time for Akamai to concentrate in USA and does what they are good at.

 

Dear Dave,

I believe that our fax number is an e-fax service. I know of no connection between Akamai and St. Regis whatsoever.

Thanks,
Tony Maranto

 

To all concerned,

Akamai has investigated statements made on this board regarding an electronic posting which incorrectly referred to the MBA programs as one of the top 50 distance education programs in the US. We have investigated and found that an unauthorized posting was indeed made by a prospective affiliate.

We have self-reported this incident to the Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection (on Tuesday) and have detailed the corrective actions that the university will take.

I wish to emphasize that the posting was against established university policies and practices, was made by an individual without the consent or authorization of the university, and was in clear violation of our standing practices for ethical recruiting. As the university was unaware of this occurrence, we do wish to thank the vigilant posters who have brought this to light. Since we have been made aware of the problem, the university has taken quick action to fix it and ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future.

I would like to post an excerpt from a letter issued yesterday by the University President to our affiliates and international program leaders (below).

We will continue our efforts to tighten our operational controls and ensure that all communications are conducted according to university policies of ethical conduct and all applicable regulations. If anyone requires additional information, please feel free to direct your communications to the university at [email protected].

Respectfully,
Tony

Anthony R. Maranto, Ph.D.

~~~~~~~ excerpt (Doug Capogrossi) ~~~~~~~

“The recent postings to the UNDP discussion board are a serious concern http://www.undp.org.vn/mlist/cngd/072004/post8.htm

This can clearly been seen by the Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection as an infraction of the law. The following actions must be taken immediately by all concerned.

What is most disconcerting is the fact that we have these troubles even before the affiliation agreements have been signed. No one was given permission to begin promotional activities and no promotional materials have yet been approved.

1. The posting must be withdrawn immediately; do nothing else in your day until the posting is removed. If it has not been removed within 12 hours, we may consider putting business programs in Vietnam on hold until these matters are clarified and resolved. A posting that corrects the error must be posted if the original erroneous posting cannot be withdrawn within 12 hours. This means that the following would need to be posted in all locations where the original message was posted.

‘I wish to apologize for an omission made in a prior posting. Akamai University is not accredited by an association recognized by the US Secretary of Education.’

3. No pending affiliate is permitted to take any actions on behalf of the University until the full agreements have been signed and received. As you are in the process of applying for an affiliation for programs in Vietnam and have not yet received our approval, you should cease any promotional actions until the approvals are forthcoming.

4. Each and every (ALL) promotional materials, whether in English or another language, whether in print or in electronic version, or if posted to a discussion forum or send in an email, MUST include the Hawaii Revised Statutes HRS446E disclaimer. There can be no exceptions to this rule. If any of our affiliates are found out of compliance with this standard, the affiliation will be discontinued immediately.

5. Each and every (ALL) promotional materials MUST be approved in writing by the Hawaii Office before they are issued, printed or posted. You are to send a draft of the complete promotional ad to my attention and do nothing until you hear back. There can be no exceptions to this rule. If any of our affiliates are found out of compliance with this procedure, we will have no other alternative than to discontinue the affiliation immediately.

6. All affiliates must keep full and accurate records of all promotional activities and keep this information in an updated manner with the main office in Hawaii. After receiving approvals for promotional materials, the actual issuance of the materials MUST be documented in a record file and sent to the University right away. PLEASE SEND TO MY OFFICE A COMPLETE RECORD OF ALL ACTIONS TAKEN BY YOUR OFFICE RELATED TO PROMOTION OF AKAMAI UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS.

Due to the seriousness of the matter as it is right now, we ask that actions to correct the situation be handled with all due SPEED.”…

Regards,

Douglass Capogrossi, Ph.D.
President
Akamai University
193 Kino`ole Street, Hilo, HI 96720 USA
Tel/Fax: 1 (808) 934-7693
[email protected]
http://www.akamaiuniversity.us

 

MBA Class in Hanoi authorized?

Mr Maranto;

Some of my friends had attended the MBA class in Hanoi few weeks ago organized by Akamai University, is this class authorized by Akamai University and are their credit earned recognized by Akamai?

They told me that Akamai university name appeared in all study material and also at the venue of the class.

I was also told that the next class is sceduled in Oct and it is going to be held simutaneously in Hanoi and Saigon.

Please help to clear the confusion.

Thanks

 

Dear Martin,

You may want to check directly with the University to be sure. I do not have a schedule of what is being offered and by whom, but send an e-mail to the administrative office and they will let you know for sure. [email protected]

Best wishes,
Tony Maranto

 

Dear Martin,

I just called the office and the prospective affiliate in question was one related to student services not instruction, so your friend should be OK, however, have them contact the university just to make sure.

All of the best to you,
Tony

 

Mr Maranto;

Your office said that the class is just students ervice and not instruction means that the student will not get any credit for the time they spend on the class as it is just student service not proper instruction.

You said that my friend will be ok, i don't understand. They have paid the tuition fee to your VN affiliate and start the class and now your office said that it is not instruction. Can they claim the money back? If not, I don't think they are ok.

 

Martin,

I think that you may be a little confused (sorry if I wasn't clear). The affiliation that was in question in this post was one for student services (i.e. they do things other than teach).

Our affiliate that is actually providing the instruction is in order (that is who your friend would have been taking classes from).

What I'm saying is if your friend enrolled in a class taught by our instructional affiliate, there is should be no problem. Credits earned will be honored. Your friend should be fine. But again, to put your mind at rest, have them call or write to the university to be doubly sure. They can check the student lists and confirm the specifics.

Sincerely,
Tony

 

No Action from Akamai Affiliate in VN

It is more than 24 hours after the posting of Tony Maranto of Akamai University and the letter from their president to their Affiliate in Asia as follow:

"B""1. The posting must be withdrawn immediately; do nothing else in your day until the posting is removed. If it has not been removed within 12 hours, we may consider putting business programs in Vietnam on hold until these matters are clarified and resolved. A posting that corrects the error must be posted if the original erroneous posting cannot be withdrawn within 12 hours. This means that the following would need to be posted in all locations where the original message was posted.

‘I wish to apologize for an omission made in a prior posting. Akamai University is not accredited by an association recognized by the US Secretary of Education.’""B"

But, the misleading advertisement is still not being removed as instructed. Even the apology statement is not found.

The advertisment is in the following URL:

www.undp.org.vn/mlist/develvn/072004/post33.htm

So, what can we concluded here:

1. Akamai has no control on their operation in Asia, even the letter and warning message from the president is ignored
or
2. Akamai is acting here in this forum, all the so call actions and investigation is just for show only

Mr Tony, please clarify............

Why?????

We want action not just talking and writing long posting