What countries do not require accreditation?

Discussion in 'Accreditation Discussions (RA, DETC, state approva' started by iamthere, Feb 22, 2011.

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  1. Tireman 44444

    Tireman 44444 Well-Known Member

    Just because a school is accredited, doesn't mean it is not a diploma mill. Walden University and University of Phoenix are two that come to mind


    Umm Walden is NOT a mill. Have you attended the school? Do you know anything about the courses? Why do I ask? My wife is ABD from Walden. She spent 20 hours a week for 3 years doing coursework. Please back up your comments before you just start spouting off schools.
     
  2. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    There's always that possibility, but I wouldn't call it probable. Working with students requires significant time, but not all that much cash. I think it's entirely possible that the right group of educators could put together something worthwhile without a whole lot of money, especially if they're modest in how much they tried to offer.

    -=Steve=-
     
  3. iamthere

    iamthere New Member

    An apology to the Walden Students/degree holders. I have gotten two universities mixed up. It was Capella the one that seems to be having problems. That is the one where their financial director is under investigation. If somebody lies about something, it makes me wonder what else they are lying about.

    @chisquare it wouldn't be a life experience degree, because the apprenticeship would be under the supervision of a teacher and a supervisor from their company.

    Also, not everyone learns the same way, but they still retain the same information.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 24, 2011
  4. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    That still doesn't explain why you view them as a diploma mill. If you believe that it is either substandard or dishonest in any way, that is one thing, but it doesn't necessarily mean that it is a diploma mill.
     
  5. Mohammed

    Mohammed New Member

    How can you consider Capella to be a mill? Capella University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA).
     
  6. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    And people from Harvard always tell the truth? Not that it's cool that their financial aid director was dishonest, of course. But a degree mill is a fake school that sells made up credentials for cash without regard to academics. None of the schools you've disparaged do that. So basically, since you've set a precedent, now you'd seem to owe apologies to students from Phoenix and Capella as well.

    Like I said, given the project you've said you want to undertake, you should be more concerned about others' perception of your legitimacy and less concerned about your perception of theirs.

    -=Steve=-
     
  7. Bill Huffman

    Bill Huffman Well-Known Member

    Diploma mill is a flexible term meaning anything from a school that is "low class" to an illegal fraudulent enterprise and everything in between. It depends on the individual.
     
  8. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Here is a definition once offered by the esteemed Dr. Steve Levicoff:

    "A *degree* mill *does* require work for the degree. However, the amount, and quality of work is so far below the level of accredited or legit/unaccredited schools that their degrees are still a joke.
    "A *diploma* mill requires no work at all for the degree, or such a minimal level of work (say, nothing except a 10-page dissertation for a doctorate) that it is a bigger joke. [...]
    "We have, over the past few years, also seen on this newsgroup the increased use of the phrase 'less-than-wonderful school.' This term, of course, originated with Dr. John Bear [...]. I think it is reasonable to observe, however, that the term 'less-than-wonderful school' originated because John Bear has been sued far more than I have."
     
  9. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Hmm. But if the term means whatever people want it to mean, then it means nothing. The term "substandard" is sufficiently descriptive of schools that aren't mills but also aren't very impressive.

    As for Levicoff, even he admits no one uses his quirky distinction other than himself. And given that he's nearly a decade out of the field, and happily so, I don't expect that to change.

    -=Steve=-
     
  10. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    I can't say that I disagree. We could probably come up with a list of schools that seem substandard (to someone) and then get into another argument with a grad of that school about how great/hard/rigorous/etc. the program was. Then there's the whole "the school was a mill in the 80's but now it's accredited," thing and then there's the whole religious exemption thing and on and on and on. For me I just say "It's accredited or it isn't." If it's accredited then it's acceptable. If it isn't then it isn't. That's my personal rule and I understand that there might be exceptions on both the good side and the bad side. My own DL interests are so mainstream that I don't need to worry about fringe programs. Also, in my own opinion, if anyone tries to say that an RA university is a mill because an employee, even the president, committed a crime then they are guilty of faulty logic (or complete lack of any logic) and any other opinion they express should be considered in that light.
     
  11. iamthere

    iamthere New Member

    I will not defend or respond to post on this thread if it is far off-topic. If the moderators want to split the thread, I may or may join in the discussion as long as there are no personal attacks, since that is against the. TOS.
     

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