10-27-2008, 08:17 AM
Douglas-Degreediscussion Wrote:By most accounts, they've (KWU) applied. This is meaningless, however. I suspect they got serious, but were told to completely re-tool, and to not continue enrolling students into their demonstrably substandard degree programs.
Barrington was a bit of a surprise. But then again, DETC has a sad history of accrediting schools engaged in some really shady practices. (For example, why is a school operating from Mobile, Alabama, allowed to bill itself as the "University of Atlanta"?)
As for your last question, that's the problem with most unaccredited DL schools: it's hard to distinguish them from diploma mills. Also, the term "diploma mill" is highly personal, situated in one's own frames of reference.
Since I can't comment at Degreediscussion I'll do it here. Over the last 10 years Douglas has stated that every university that's been up for accreditation is a degreemill or otherwise deficient without any exception I can recall.
Obviously Douglas is unaware that the University of Atlanta changed hands a few years before accreditation and increased the rigor of its programs to meet the standard of accreditation. DETC made no compromise and to my knowledge never has. Why are we aware that some DETC accredited schools have been deficient? Simply because they have had their accreditation terminated. The regionals turf out schools every year. In the USDOE's last review, DETC was praised for meeting every standard while the regionals were saved from action only by their political stroke and received a warning. At the time the AALE was suspended from new accreditations but has since been reinstated.
The term diploma mill is highly personal especially if you're trying to win an argument without evidence. Many people have called the Union Institute and University a degreemill. That's where Douglas got his PhD. Since his graduation they have increased their standards because of disciplinary action from the NCA, the USDOE, and the Ohio Board of Regents. Other people have called the University of Phoenix a degreemill. That's where Douglas got years of teaching experience.
What does it all mean? Opinions are like assholes, everybody has one. I means nothing more and nothing less. Douglas has his meaningless opinions, just like everyone else.