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| Former names | Kennedy-Western University |
|---|---|
| Type | Private, distance learning and unaccredited university |
| Active | 1984–2009 |
| Academic staff | 120 |
| Students | 30,000 total from 1984 to 2005 |
| Address | 200 West 17th Street, Cheyenne, Wyoming, 82001-4412, Cheyenne, Wyoming |
| Website | wnuedu.com at Archive.org |
Warren National University, previously known as Kennedy-Western University, was a post-secondary, distance learning, unaccredited private university that offered undergraduate and graduate degrees in the United States from 1984 to 2009. Its administrative offices were located in Agoura Hills, California.
History
Warren National University was established as Kennedy-Western University in California in 1984. Its founder was Paul Saltman. The name was officially changed to Warren National University on January 1, 2007. According to the institution, the new name was selected in honor of the first governor of Wyoming, Francis E. Warren, and reflects the university's strong ties to the state of Wyoming. In 2003 the Encyclopedia of Distributed Learning cited Kennedy-Western University as an example of an unaccredited, profit-making online university that had "achieved reported economic success."
Over the university's history, it had offices in, Hawaii, Idaho, and finally to Wyoming, while keeping headquarters in California until December 2007. As of December 14, 2007, WNU closed its administrative offices in Agoura Hills, California, centralizing its operations in Wyoming.
In 2002 The Chronicle of Higher Education reported that KWU was licensed in California up to 1991, "But Kennedy-Western chose not to renew its license after California enacted the Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education Reform Act. In the same article the Chronicle quoted the school's director of admissions as saying the new California regulations would not have permitted KWU "to offer college credit for work experience and a more flexible self-paced model."
In August 2008, WNU announced that it was suspending new student admissions and reactivation of students in order to focus resources on current students. On January 30, 2009, WNU announced that their attempt to achieve accreditation had failed. Therefore, in compliance with Wyoming state law they would cease operations on March 31, 2009. It was also mentioned that future university registrar services would be provided by Preston University.
Warren National University was registered with the Wyoming Department of Education under W.S. 21-2-401 through 21-2-407. This registration allowed the university to legally conduct business in the state. However, WNU was never accredited by any higher education accreditation body recognized in the United States. As a condition of registration in Wyoming, the institution had to meet standards contained in "Article 4: Private School Licensing." One such requirement, which took effect in July 2006, was that a school must either be accredited or be in the process of becoming accredited by a higher education accrediting organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. In order to continue operating in Wyoming, Warren National University applied for accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the recognized regional accreditation agency serving the state. The accreditation process was expected to take several years. According to WNU, the school achieved "eligibility status" for accreditation in December 2007. The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Commission scheduled an "initial candidacy" visit by an evaluation team on October 13–15, 2008, another required step toward accreditation. As of January 27, 2009, WNU was no longer listed by the Higher Learning Commission as "Applying" for accreditation, but instead as "No Status." On January 30, 2009 the WNU website explained that the evaluation visit did not go well and the recommendation was that the accreditation process should be terminated. Therefore, WNU withdrew their accreditation application. On January 30, 2009, Warren National University announced that their attempt to achieve accreditation had failed and that they would cease operating on March 31, 2009.
In 2001 Warren National announced it was considering applying to the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) for accreditation, a legitimate accreditor that is recognized for accrediting distance-learning institutions. However, while DETC's approval from the U.S. Department of Education does authorize it to accredit institutions that award doctorates, WNU did not pursue DETC accreditation.
Academics
Warren National University offered bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration, computer science, humanities, management information systems, and health administration, as well as a Doctor of Business Administration degree.
In 2004, Kennedy-Western said, "By leveraging the power of the internet, Kennedy-Western has refined the academic process and opened up countless opportunities to adult learners. And they used Jones e-Global Library."
Kennedy-Western instructors said their students often used the same textbooks and took exams as rigorous as those offered in traditional classes.
Faculty
In 2007 a Warren National official said the institution had between 135 and 150 faculty members. According to WNU spokesmen and the school's website, 80% of the academic faculty hold doctoral degrees from accredited institutions and the remainder hold master's degrees from accredited institutions. At least 22 WNU instructors were full-time faculty at other state and private academic institutions, primarily associate and assistant professors in business, computer science, or engineering at state universities. These part-time WNU faculty were paid on a piecework basis, receiving $25 to grade a paper, $200 to develop a course, and $40 per hour to answer students' questions. Some of these faculty members declined to discuss their WNU work with The Chronicle of Higher Education with the about their work for WNU due to concern that their regular employers or their colleagues would disapprove of it.
Controversy
GAO investigation
An investigation was conducted in 2003-2004 by the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) to determine whether the federal government had paid for degrees from unaccredited postsecondary schools. Investigators determined that the federal government employed 463 individuals with degrees from unaccredited institutions including Kennedy-Western University. Senator Collins presented the GAO report to the Committee on Governmental Affairs, of which she was the Chair and ranking Republican.
Witness testimony was provided during the same hearing by Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Claudia Gelzer, who was assigned as a staff aide to the committee and enrolled at Kennedy-Western as part of the committee's investigation. Gelzer testified that she enrolled at Kennedy-Western undercover Kennedy-Western gave her life experience credit towards a master's in engineering. Kennedy-Western waived 43% of the course credit required for the degree based on her application and prior coursework and military training. "As for my first-hand experience with Kennedy-Western courses and passing the tests, I found that familiarity with the textbook was all I needed. I was able to find exam answers without having read a chapter of the text."
Lewis M. Phelps, a spokesman for Kennedy-Western University, said the online university was unfairly tarnished in the report. "The basic equation GAO seems to have come up with is 'no accreditation, no good,' " Phelps said. "We don't think that's valid."
Oregon lawsuit
In July 2004, Warren National University filed a lawsuit on behalf of three former students, challenging an Oregon law that made it illegal for résumés used in connection with employment (including job applications) in the state to list degrees from institutions that are not accredited. In the suit, WNU asserted that the Oregon law violated its graduates' constitutional rights. In December 2004, Warren National and Oregon reached an out-of-court settlement in the case. Under the terms of the settlement, Oregon agreed to revise its law, allowing graduates of unaccredited schools to list an unaccredited degree on a résumé. The statutory revision was enacted in 2005. In the settlement, the state attorney general's office agreed to provide Oregon State Office of Degree Authorization (ODA) personnel with a training session on law related to defamation. However, Oregon still does not allow WNU degrees to be used for governmental employment or for professional licenses, because the ODA determined that the institution does not meet standard academic requirements as specified by Oregon statute ORS 348.609(1).
See also
- Distance education
- Educational accreditation
- Electronic learning
- List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning
- Virtual university
References
- Online Extra: Inside diploma mills by Wilson P. Dizard III, Government Computer News, May 17, 2004
- ^ http://www.wnuedu.com/aboutwnu-offices.asp (accessed January 2, 2008)
- ^ New Name for Unaccredited University Salutes Wyoming Governor, The Chronicle of Higher Education, November 30, 2006
- ^ Kennedy-Western University is changing its name to Warren National University, Former KWU website
- Encyclopedia of Distributed Learning, by Dr. Kjell Erik Rudestam, SAGE Publications, ISBN 978-0-7619-2451-7, November 6, 2003
- ^ Regulating Kennedy-Western -- or Not by Andrea L. Foster, The Chronicle of Higher Education, April 12, 2002
- A Mysterious Silence Emanates From Warren National U, by Thomas Bartlett, The Chronicle of Higher Education, August 25, 2008
- ^ WNU website (accessed January 30, 2009)
- Wyoming Department of Education Private School Registration, accessed February 29, 2008
- Wyoming Private school licensing-amendments, Joint Education Interim Committee
- Wyoming Department of Education, Registered Private Degree Granting Post-Secondary Education Institutions
- Wyoming Toughens Up on Unaccredited, "Inside Higher Education", March 20, 2006
- ^ New law prompts online school changes, Jackson Hole Star Tribune, 2006
- Schools try to end unaccredited status, Billings Gazette, July 1, 2006. The article quoted Lady Branham, deputy to the association's executive director, as saying: "Accreditation generally involves an intensive review, including inspection visits by teams from the accrediting agency. After today's deadline to apply for accreditation, the law gives schools five years to achieve it. With North Central, that's a tight schedule. Just being accepted as an accreditation candidate with North Central is a process in itself. They could be candidates within four to five years. It's unlikely that it would be sooner. And then accreditation is usually four years after candidacy begins. And it's not automatic. It assumes that the institution actually completely fulfills all the criteria."
- Public Accreditation Notice and Call for Third Party Comment, WNU website, accessed July 19, 2008
- Comprehensive Visit List, The Higher Learning Commission website, accessed July 19, 2008
- Warren National U., Formerly Known as Kennedy-Western U., to Shut Down, by Thomas Bartlett, The Chronicle of Higher Education, February 2, 2009
- "DETC Site". Retrieved 6 March 2012.
- Warren National University Areas of Study Warren National University website
- Understanding New Media: Augmented Knowledge and Culture, University of Calgary Press, ISBN 978-1-55238-154-0, July 30, 2006.
- ^ Foster, Andrea L. (April 12, 2002). "Moonlighting for an Unaccredited University". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Archived from the original on September 28, 2009.
{{cite news}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; June 28, 2009 suggested (help) - Warren National University Faculty, Warren National University website
- "State mulls online learning". Billings Gazette. Associated Press]]. January 30, 2005. Archived from the original on January 15, 2008.
- ^ Lawmakers consider legislation to close diploma-mill loophole, By David McGlinchey, Government Executive, May 12, 2004
- U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs (May 11, 2004). "Senator Collins Unveils GAO Report Showing Federal Agencies Purchased Bogus Degrees With Taxpayer Dollars" (Press release).
- Statement of Lieutenant Commander Claudia Gelzer
- Public Paid for Bogus Degrees, Washington Post, May 12, 2004.
- States Struggle to Regulate Online Colleges That Lack Accreditation, by Sarah Carr and Andrea L. Foster, The Chronicle of Higher Education, March 23, 2001.
- ^ Oregon settles with unaccredited university, Portland Business Journal, December 22, 2004.
- ^ Oregon Settles Federal Lawsuit Filed by Kennedy-Western University; State Officials Will Seek Changes to State Law Regulating the Use of Degrees from Unaccredited Universities, Kennedy-Western press release by David Gering, Businesswire, December 21, 2004
- Conference Committee on SB 1039, 73rd Oregon Legislative Assembly - 2005 Regular Session, Measure: SB 1039 A*, June 22, 2005.
- "Scarlet Letter", Inside Higher Education, July 7, 2005
- Unaccredited Colleges, Oregon Office of Degree Authorization
External links
- Warren National University – official website at Archive.org
- Kennedy-Western University – official website at Archive.org
Government reports
Categories:- Unaccredited institutions of higher learning in the United States
- Defunct universities and colleges in California
- Distance education institutions
- Distance education institutions based in the United States
- Unaccredited institutions of higher learning in California
- Educational institutions established in 1984
- 1984 establishments in Wyoming