Some of you may remember about a week or so ago, I posted regarding California Coast University and the DETC were not being recognized by the State of Texas and degrees from either CCU or a DETC accredited school were considered substandard and therefore a Misdemeanor (a low grade crime).
See:
http://community.elearners.com/blogs/ashford_university_blog/archive/2007/10/26/attention-all-distance-learners-a-call-to-action.aspx
Well I received a reply from the State of Texas today regarding California Coast University. It stated:
"We have received your email relating to California Coast University and Ashford University. Coordinating Board staff are in the process of reviewing the institutions listed on our Web site to reassess whether or not these institutions currently meet the state's rules and regulations to operate legally in Texas. Depending on the outcome of that review process, we will update our Web site accordingly. "
They have updated their website to indicate accreditation in 2005 for California Coast University which is good. However I find it curious that they do not have the DETC as a recognized accrediting agency yet somehow CCU is "okay". Hopefully at least it's not a crime anymore to use a DETC accredited degree in Texas.
As for my concerns regarding real Ashford University degrees being confused with a fake "Ashford University" degree because of some small time degree mill several years ago, those concerns seem to have gone completely disregarded. As it reads now, unless you look at it carefully it may be easy to believe that Ashford University is in fact a fraudulent school aside from one little disclaimer off to the side noting that Ashford University in Clinton, Iowa is okay. It says:
"Fictitious name used by the University Degree Program scam. See University Degree Program (1). Not to be confused with the legitimate Ashford University in Iowa (the former Franciscan University)."
The problem I have is that they have not listed fake degrees from other schools such as Stanford, Columbia or Harvard, but somehow they believe Ashford should have a listing. How idiotic.
Overall I think the State of Texas is showing that they have been responsive to our emails concerning California Coast University, but have completely disregarded any concerns about the DETC being a recognized accrediting agency. As for Ashford University, that was my own personal little beef and it seems bureaucratic idiocy will overcome better sense in this particular situation. So in Texas if you happen to be one of the thousands with a fake Harvard degree, you're golden, but if you are one of the dozens with a fake Ashford University degree, watch out! Jeez!
I'm a bit frustrated at the Texas Department of Education at the moment and will write them again tomorrow.