Buxton University
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Buxton University is an unaccredited vendor of distance education that uses a postal address in the United Kingdom[1]. It is reportedly associated with InstantDegrees.com.
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[edit] Charter and accreditation status
The institution does not hold a Royal Charter, [2] which is required for an institution in the United Kingdom to call itself a university, per the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. However, the institution does not advertise itself as a university in the UK and uses a commercial (instead of academic) internet domain name - buxtonuniversity.co.uk. The domain, however, is registered to a "Camford Institute Subang Jaya" in Singapore. [3]
Buxton claims accreditation by the World Online Education Accrediting Commission,[4] as well as the Board of Online Universities Accreditation (BOUA), but neither agency is recognized as a higher education accreditor by the United States Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.
[edit] History
[edit] Criticism and controversy
There has been controversy in relation to Buxton University.
In 2004, a Texas television station investigated Buxton University by having an employee order a degree from the InstantDegrees.com website. The station reported that the employee received a master's degree, summa cum laude, by mail within a few days after submitting an order. [5]
Also in 2004, The Washington Post reported that a hypnotist, William R. Runnells Jr., had called himself "Doctor", and whose degree was from the American Institute of Hypnotherapy and Buxton University.[6] In that article, the Post wrote, "...repeated Web searches and several calls to overseas operators did not turn up a listing for a Buxton University."[6]
Buxton University is on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board list of Institutions Whose Degrees are Illegal to Use in Texas.[7]
[edit] See also
- Canterbury University (Seychelles)
- Diploma mill
- List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning
[edit] References
- ^ Restricted Degrees in Oregon Oregon Office of Degree Authorization
- ^ A complete listing of UK universities is found on the HERO website
- ^ Whois database query on 13/6/2008 [1]
- ^ "Buxton University". http://www.buxtonuniversity.co.uk/. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
- ^ San Antonio News article (retrieved March 6, 2008)
- ^ a b Sandra G. Boodman. Risen From the Ashes: Founders of Phoenix Method One Say Their Hypnosis Treatment Can Cure Addictions Washington Post April 13, 2004; Page HE01
- ^ Institutions Whose Degrees are Illegal to Use in Texas Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
