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Revision as of 00:36, 29 September 2006 by Veronica678 (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Almeda University, not accredited and offers "Life Experience Degree, and Certificate Program" online, including doctorate degrees in religion and theology.
Accreditation
Almeda University is accredited by the Council for Distance Education Accreditation, the Association for Online Academic Excellence, and Interfaith Education Ministries. These independent agencies testify to the integrity and utility of an Almeda education. However, none of these entities are a component of the public sector and due to the nature of obtaining a degree, Almeda does not qualify for “regional” accreditation. Thus, Almeda degrees are not recognized in the states of Florida, Illinois, Oregon, New Jersey, North Dakota, Washington, and Idaho. The implications of this distinction are as follows: - Almeda University is unable to participate in the Federal Student Loan/Financial Aid program. - Almeda University is not authorized to accept the GI Bill. - Almeda University is unable to guarantee acceptance of its degree programs in other postsecondary institutions. - Corporations are not required to recognize degrees from Almeda University.
Because of public sector nepotism toward traditional colleges, employers in this realm may not recognize the legitimacy of the Almeda degree. Such a decision is completely arbitrary, and thus may vary depending on your particular state or municipality. Nonetheless, we must caution you against attempting to use an Almeda degree for any employment related to the public sector. Therefore, we strongly recommend you do not rely on your Almeda education to fulfill the requirements of a public sector job in any of the above mentioned states. Because private industry does not benefit from the accreditation fees paid to the government, private employers are more progressive in realizing value and contribution of smaller private schools and private accreditation bodies. However, while degrees from Almeda University are accepted in most private sector companies, employees are further cautioned to check with their current or prospective employers regarding the acceptability of an Almeda University degree.
Almeda University claims to be accredited by Interfaith Education Ministries (IEM) and the Association for Online Academic Excellence (AOAEX), but they clearly disclose on their website that they are not recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.
Criticism and controversy
While other universities may only consider classroom time in granting degrees, Almeda looks into all facets of someone’s life and the experiences they have accumulated over their life.
It is important for a candidate to have a basic understanding of how accreditation works in order to make an informed decision regarding the applicability of an Almeda degree. The first concept that needs to be addressed is the fact that acceptance on the part of an employer is optional, whether or not the degree has been granted by an accredited institution, and in no way mandatory or compulsory. Accreditation is a mechanism meant to assure quality in educational institutions and programs that takes the form of a voluntary process of peer review. It requires an educational institution or program to meet certain defined standards or criteria. There are two types of accreditation: institutional and specialized. Institutional accreditors take the college or university as a whole educational institution. Specialized accreditors, on the other hand, evaluate specific educational programs. Since public sector jobs are funded directly or indirectly by the government, it follows that public sector employers will not accept any institution that is not accredited by the government. The accreditation process costs hundreds of thousands of dollars it constitutes a source of revenue for the public funds. An unfortunate side effect of the public sector’s refusal to recognize privately accredited schools is the elimination of choice by making it prohibitive for smaller schools to compete on an equal footing in the recruitment and education of students. Employers in the public sector do no benefit financially from the revenue of government accreditation and are therefore open to decide whether or not to accept a privately accredited institution on its own merits.
In 2002, the State of Oregon passed a law making it illegal for graduates to list Almeda University and hundreds of other non-regionally accredited schools on their resumes. In December 2004, Kennedy Western University filed a lawsuit against the state of Oregon claiming that it is unconstitutional for the state to dictate the what private individuals may put on their resumes so long as the degree was obtained legally. Oregon reached an out-of-court settlement. Under the terms of the settlement, graduates of Kennedy-Western and other non-regionally accredited schools may list the school on a resume as long as they note its unaccredited status. The State of Oregon does not regulate the acceptance of these degrees in private industry, however, "such degrees are invalid for use for academic or professional purposes in public or licensed employment." http://www.osac.state.or.us/oda/faq.html#oregon According to BBB records, the address listed for Almeda University, 10400 Overland Rd., # 224, Boise, ID is a private mail box company. This Idaho address is a central mail facility, not part of any Almeda University campus. Furthermore, any mail sent to 10400 Overland Rd, #224 is forwarded to an Almeda agent in another location.
Almeda's standards are reviewed each year by its private accrediting agency, the AOAEx. According to the BBB, Almeda pays an annual fee of $750.00 for this review.
References
See also
- Life Experience Degrees
- List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning
- List of unrecognized accreditation associations of higher learning
- School accreditation
External links
- Degree Advice comparison of unacredited degree programs
- Database for Accreditation in the United States
- Database for Accreditation in the United Kingdom
- ePublicEye satisfaction ratings from prior Almeda students
- Database for Accreditation in Australia
- List of unacceptable/illegal schools by State of Michigan
- List of unacceptable/illegal schools by Oregon State Office of Degree Authorization
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