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| '''Almeda University''' (also known as '''Almeda College''', '''Almeda College & University''', or '''Almeda International University | |||
| '''Almeda University''' (also known as '''Almeda College''', '''Almeda College & University''', or '''Almeda International University'''<ref name=oda>, Oregon State Office of Degree Authorization, accessed and September 16, 2011</ref><ref name=tx-fraudnotx/><ref>, Almeda College website, accessed September 16, 2011</ref><ref>, accessed September 17, 2011</ref>) is an ]<ref name=oda/><ref name=maine>, ] state government</ref> ] institution that offers various ] through ], including a "Life Experience Degree". | |||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| Almeda University was founded in 1997 as a distance learning program and currently has an address in ]. In 2001, the school established an online presence. It currently offers undergraduate degrees as well as masters and doctorate degree programs. In addition to its degree programs, Almeda University also offers a wide selection of |
Almeda University was founded in 1997 as a distance learning program and currently has an address in ]. In 2001, the school established an online presence. It currently offers undergraduate degrees as well as masters and doctorate degree programs. In addition to its degree programs, Almeda University also offers a wide selection of courses intended for professional development. | ||
| Almeda University offers associate, bachelor and master degrees using "Prior Learning Assessment" and also master and doctorate programs in business and theology that require the completion of a thesis or dissertation, according to its website. | |||
| ==Programs and courses== | |||
| Almeda University offers associate, bachelor and master degrees using "Prior Learning Assessment" and also master and doctorate programs in business and theology that require the completion of a thesis or dissertation, according to its website.<ref name="Almeda University">{{cite web|url = http://www.almedauniversity.org/ | title = Almeda University |publisher = Almeda University| accessdate = 2007-10-15| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20071014014311/http://www.almedauniversity.org/?| archivedate= 14 October 2007 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> Almeda University also offers some 1,000 nondegree technical and business courses and certification preparation programs by e-learning.<ref name="Almeda University">{{cite web|url = http://www.almedauniversity.org/prospective-students.html | title = Prospective Students |publisher = Almeda University| accessdate = 2011-9-16}}</ref> | |||
| ==Accreditation status== | |||
| Legally, Almeda University is a corporation registered on the Caribbean island of ].<ref name="almeda-pp"/> | |||
| Almeda claims accreditation by the ], ] (IEM) and the ] (AOAEX);<ref name="Almeda-accred">{{cite news | url=http://www.almedacollege.org/certification-accreditation.html | title= Almeda University-Certifications and accreditations | publisher=Almeda University | year=2006 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2006-08-18| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20060813154908/http://www.almedacollege.org/certification-accreditation.html| archivedate= 13 August 2006 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> none of these are recognized by the ] or the ].<ref name="chea">{{cite news | url=http://www.chea.org | title=Accreditation Database and Information | publisher=] | date= | first= | last= | accessdate = 2006-08-18| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20060820045039/http://www.chea.org/| archivedate= 20 August 2006 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> On its website, Almeda states that its claimed sources of accreditation are not recognized by the US Department of Education, with the result that students cannot receive US federal loans or assistance under the ] and Almeda degrees may not be recognized by academia or employers.<ref name="Almeda-accred" /> | |||
| *'''Connecticut:''' According to the ], Almeda was ordered to cease operating in ] in October 2001. After an investigation in 2002 indicated that Almeda was continuing to advertise its programs in Connecticut, the Department of Higher Education sent Almeda a second cease and desist letter and referred the issue to the ] for possible legal action.<ref name=CT_DHE>{{cite web| url = http://www.ctdhe.org/info/pdfs/ReportUnlicensedSchools.pdf | |||
| | format=PDF | |||
| | title = Actions against unlicensed colleges and private occupational schools in Connecticut Fall 2001-Spring 2003 | |||
| | publisher = Connecticut Department of Higher Education | |||
| | accessdate = 2007-01-17}}</ref> | |||
| *'''Florida:''' In 2003 the ] entered into an agreement with Almeda requiring the institution to cease operating in the state. Although Floridians can still get a degree from the online university, Almeda warns Floridians that its degrees may not be valid for public employment in Florida.<ref name="NBC2">{{cite news | |||
| | url = http://www.nbc-2.com/Articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=7965&z=3&p= | |||
| | title = University not recognized by state of Florida | |||
| | publisher = NBC2 | |||
| | date = 2006-07-17 | |||
| | first = Kathryn | |||
| | last = Simmons | |||
| | accessdate = 2006-08-18 | |||
| |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071026165001/http://www.nbc-2.com/Articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=7965&z=3&p= |archivedate=2007-10-26}} </ref> | |||
| *'''Texas:''' Almeda is on the ] list of "Institutions Whose Degrees are Illegal to Use in Texas."<ref name=tx-fraudnotx>{{cite web| url = http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/AAR/PrivateInstitutions/NoTX.cfm | |||
| | title = Institutions Whose Degrees are Illegal to Use in Texas | |||
| | publisher = Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board | |||
| | accessdate = 2008-05-09 and 2011-09-16| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20080510233955/http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/AAR/PrivateInstitutions/NoTX.cfm| archivedate= 10 May 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> | |||
| *'''Other states:''' Almeda's website also warns Almeda degrees may not be valid for public employment in Illinois, Oregon, New Jersey, North Dakota, Washington and Idaho.<ref name="almeda-pp">{{cite web | |||
| | url = https://almedauniversity.org/application/policy-procedure.html | |||
| | title = Almeda Policies and Procedures | |||
| | accessdate = 2006-10-04}}</ref> | |||
| ==Reception== | |||
| Almeda's academic standards have been criticized by a variety of education organizations. According to ''Bear's Guide to Earning Degrees by Distance Learning'', Almeda College and University is a web-only university that offers degrees based on an assessment of a candidate's "life experience". Bear notes that Almeda states that it is accredited by the ], but that that association is itself unrecognized.<ref name=bear187/><ref name="chea" /> | |||
| In 2004 the ] affiliate in ], ran a report on Almeda that featured Peter Brancato, who had filled out an application for an ] degree on behalf of his dog, Wally. On the application, Brancato listed "Plays with the kids every day ... teaches them to interact better with each other ... Teaches them responsibilities like feeding the dog." Almeda granted Wally a "life experience" ] in childhood development.<ref name="CBS6">{{cite news | url=http://www2.wrgb.com/iteam/investigation/investigation.asp?selection=article_23366 | title=Degrees for Sale | publisher=CBS6 | date=2004-02-19 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2006-08-18| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20060824192605/http://www2.wrgb.com/iteam/investigation/investigation.asp?selection=article_23366| archivedate= 24 August 2006 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> Almeda claims Brancato ] himself by creating a false identity using a fabricated name and date of birth. They write, "He completed an application that included a background of the following: Eight-years tutoring pre-K children, curriculum design and development, teaching coping skills, and volunteer coaching."<ref name="Perjury to prove a point?">{{cite web | url=http://almedauniversity.org/press-release.html | title=Perjury to prove a point | publisher=Almeda University | accessdate = 2006-10-20| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20061108181011/http://almedauniversity.org/press-release.html| archivedate= 8 November 2006 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> | |||
| In 2006 a ], police officer was required to pay back a salary increase based on a degree from Almeda.<ref name="NBC2" /> Two Naples police officers were also temporarily terminated after investigation showed that they received diplomas from Almeda University.<ref name="NBC2-fired">{{cite news | |||
| | url = http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=7960&z=3&p= | |||
| | title = Police officers fired over fake degrees | |||
| | author = Kara Kenney | |||
| | publisher = NBC2 | |||
| | date = 2006-07-17 | |||
| | accessdate = 2006-10-04 | |||
| |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070330070241/http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=7960&z=3&p= <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-03-30}}</ref> Both officers appealed, stating to investigators that they had talked to department administrators before submitting the degrees to verify that they qualified for the incentive program.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2006/oct/12/hearing_today_fired_naples_police_officers/?latest|title=City manager hears arguments in ex-officers' firings|date=2006-10-12|accessdate=2009-03-26|author=Staff|work=]}}</ref> On October 28, 2006, both officers were given their jobs back, with back pay, however received 10-day suspensions and were required to take an ethics course before the end of the year.<ref>{{cite news | |||
| | url = http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2006/oct/28/two_naples_officers_get_jobs_back/?local_news | |||
| | title = Officers fired for online degrees rehired | |||
| | author = Ryan Mills | |||
| | publisher = Naples Daily News | |||
| | date = 2006-10-28 | |||
| }}</ref> In a similar incident in 2009, eight Washington state troopers who had obtained degrees from Almeda were required to relinquish the educational incentive pay they had received, but they avoided prosecution for ] because prosecutors could not find evidence of ].<ref>Sharon Pian Chan, , '']''. Republished by ''Yakima Herald'', February 3, 2009</ref><ref>Scott Gutierrez, , '']'', February 2, 2009</ref> Also in 2009, the '']'' reported that Sacramento city firefighters who had purchased degrees from diploma mills to get raises were having their raises revoked. Almeda University was listed as one of the institutions that had provided degrees.<ref>Robert Lewis, , ], July 9, 2009. .</ref> | |||
| In 2011, the website U.S. News University Directory, operated by '']'', published an article about online education that included favorable mention of Almeda's master's degree program in psychology. '']'' reported in June 2011 that the item was brought to its attention by the website ] and that the U.S. News website removed the posting after being alerted that Almeda "is not recognized as a legitimate degree-granting university by the U.S. Department of Education or any mainstream accrediting agency." The website editors stated their commitment to "focus on accredited colleges and universities" and blamed an "editorial oversight" for the site's use of an Almeda ] as a source.<ref>Steve Kolowich, , '']'', June 30, 2011 </ref> | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{Reflist}} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| * | |||
| {{coord missing|Saint Kitts and Nevis}} | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Revision as of 16:05, 6 November 2012
 | |
| Established | 1997 |
|---|---|
| Affiliations | USDLA |
| Website | www.almedauniversity.org |
Almeda University (also known as Almeda College, Almeda College & University, or Almeda International University
History
Almeda University was founded in 1997 as a distance learning program and currently has an address in Boise, Idaho. In 2001, the school established an online presence. It currently offers undergraduate degrees as well as masters and doctorate degree programs. In addition to its degree programs, Almeda University also offers a wide selection of courses intended for professional development. Almeda University offers associate, bachelor and master degrees using "Prior Learning Assessment" and also master and doctorate programs in business and theology that require the completion of a thesis or dissertation, according to its website.