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The name Warnborough is associated with a number of different institutions of higher education 1973-present, including Warnborough College Oxford, Warnborough University, Warnborough College, and Warnborough College Ireland.

1973-1996 Warnborough College Oxford

Warnborough College at Oxford was founded in Oxford, England in 1973. It offered study abroad programs and catered largely to American undergraduate and graduate students who would spend a semester or year abroad as part of their academic program. Other offerings included Warnborough College International Summer Schools and a venue for summer conferences. It was located about four miles from the city of Oxford, and facilities included a lodge for the teaching staff and two Victorian Gothic mansions, one used as the women's dorm and one used as a men's dorm and for classes.

In 1995 Warnborough enrolled its first group of students on-site in a four-year academic program. Warnborough generated controversy for allegedly representing itself as being related to Oxford University and was sued by the Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board. In 1996, the United States Department of Education terminated the eligibility of Warnborough College UK to participate in the federal student financial assistance programs and fined the college for misrepresenting itself to students and to the Department of Education as a degree-granting institution. Due to resulting financial problems, in June of 1996 Yatscombe Hall was repossessed and in October Warnborough went into liquidation.

1997-present: Distance education programs

In 1997 Warnborough also incorporated as a Limited Company in Ireland called Warnborough University. Warnborough shifted its focus to distance education, offering BA, MA, and PhD diplomas and degrees, as well as certificate, training, and professional development programs worldwide. According to the Warnborough web site, Warnborough partners with a number of other institutions in offering various programs of study. Students can begin study on the first of any month and are invited to help shape their course of study. Some programs offered allow students the opportunity to customize them according to their needs.

In November 2005, the Department of Education and Science said that Warnborough University in Ireland was in breach of the Universities Act 1997 by calling itself a university, and requested that they not use the word "university" to describe themselves. In January of 2006 Warnborough in Ireland registered as Warnborough College. Warnborough College Ireland is currently based at All Hallows in Dublin, Ireland, and Warnborough College UK is based in Canterbury Kent. In February 2008, the Irish Independent reported that All Hallows were concerned that Warnborough had falsely represented itself as linked to All Hallows and that All Hallows had decided not to renew its rental agreement with Warnborough after August 2008. John Joe Spring, vice president of All Hallows, told the Independent that his institution had "no involvement of any kind in the academic programmes or arrangements of Warnborough College" and had asked Warnborough to remove from its website all images of All Hallows and references to plans for seminars and graduation ceremonies at the All Hallows campuses.

Accreditation

Warnborough does not currently have the educational accreditation necessary to be a chartered university in Ireland or the U.K., and does not offer recognized Irish or British degrees. Warnborough has applied for recognition in Ireland through the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC). However, Warnborough courses are not recognised by Ireland's Department of Education, HETAC, or the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI). In February 2008, Sean O'Foghlu, chief executive of NQAI told the Irish Independent: "Warnborough College is not a recognised higher education institution or awarding body. The qualifications on offer are effectively worthless." Warnborough degrees are not accepted in Texas, Oregon, or Australia. According to the Warnborough web site, over 200 colleges and universities have accepted transfer credit from Warnborough College.

The Warnborough College website states that the institution has ISO 9001 (quality management systems) certification through The United Kingdom Accreditation Service, which is an accreditor of UK certification, testing, inspection and calibration services.

Former students

Notable former students include book author Becky Garrison, eye surgeon Dr. Raymond Gailitis , consultant Dr. Audrey Nelson , attorney Polly McNeil, former surgeon and businessman Kneeland Youngblood and international trade policy analyst P. Welles Orr.

References

1. Queensland Courier-Mail, November 10, 1993, Residential Property section, p. 35
2. Notes; VACATIONING AT AN OVERSEAS UNIVERSITY, The New York Times, January 18th, 1981
3. The Guardian, February 19, 1990
4. Students Find Warnborough Is Not A Part Of Oxford, Seattle Times, October 1, 1995
5. Students Find Warnborough Is Not A Part Of Oxford, Seattle Times, October 1, 1995
6. Americans Say a College Near Oxford Duped Them, New York Times, October 2, 1995
7. In the Matter of Warnborough College, Docket Nos. 95-164-ST and 96-60-SF, Student Financial Assistance Termination and Fine Proceedings, US Dept. of Education, August 9, 1996
8. "College that lured U.S. students goes bust," The Times (London), October 29, 1996
9. Irish Independent, November 14th 2005
10. http://www.warnborough.ie, Accessed February 21st, 2008
11. ^ College charges €18,000 fees for 'useless' degrees, By Shane Phelan and John Walshe, Irish Independent, February 15 2008
12. Providers of Higher Education in Ireland
13. U.S. Department of Education, Office of Hearings and Appeals, In the Matter of Warnborough College, Docket Nos. 95-164-ST and 96- 60-SF, Student Financial Assistance, Termination and Fine Proceedings, August 9, 1996
14. Montell, Gabriela (2000-10-13). "What You Need To Know Before You Work Abroad". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
15. Institutions Whose Degrees are Illegal to Use in Texas
16. Unaccredited Colleges, Oregon State Office of Degree Authorization
17. About Accreditation, United Kingdom Accreditation Service website (accessed October 21, 2007)
18. Ophthalmology Consultants (Margate, Florida) website
19. Audrey Nelson biography, Nelson Communication website
20. Polly L. McNeill, Summit Law Group website
21. Dr. Kneeland Youngblood Biography (interviewed on October 28, 2004), The HistoryMakers website
22. P. Welles Orr, Miller & Chevalier website

See also

• Educational accreditation
• List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning

External links

• Warnborough Worldwide
• Warnborough College (England)
• Warnborough College (Ireland)
• Unaccredited colleges by Oregon State Office of Degree Authorization
• Warnborough College Ireland FAQ

• Distance education institutions
• Unaccredited institutions of higher learning