California Coast University
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| California Coast University | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1973 |
| Type | Distance education university |
| President | Dr. Thomas Neal |
| Students | 8,000 |
| Location | Santa Ana, California, United States |
| Website | http://www.calcoast.edu |
33°46′44.93″N 117°52′15.39″W / 33.7791472°N 117.8709417°W California Coast University (CCU) is a nationally accredited, distance learning private university that was established in 1973 and is located in Santa Ana, California.
[edit] History
The school was founded in 1973 as California Western University with administration and library facilities located in downtown Santa Ana, California. The name was changed to California Coast University in 1981. Approximately 8,000 students are enrolled at any given time.
Since its founding, CCU has offered undergraduate and graduate programs in business, management, psychology and education. The primary method of learning is directed independent study. Research, study, and testing are accomplished off-campus. Traditional classroom attendance is not offered.
In 2003, CCU and some other unaccredited schools were investigated by the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO). The school was included by reference in the GAO's 2004 report on diploma mills and other unaccredited schools, but no wrongdoing was attributed to CCU. In fact, the school was accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education shortly thereafter.[1][2][3] It received attention when CCU graduate John Pennington was appointed to the Federal Emergency Management Agency by George W. Bush, who listed his CCU degree without mentioning the school in 2005.[4] Due to some state laws and CCU's previously unaccredited status, CCU graduates have occasionally run into trouble when using their unaccredited degrees and the Dr title.[5]
CCU received national accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) on January 8, 2005.[6][7] The DETC is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) in Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). At present, DETC accreditation authorizes CCU to award degrees up to the masters level. Since DETC has been approved by USDE to accredit professional doctorates, including the D.B.A. and Ed.D, CCU has applied to DETC to award degrees at this level. The school has been approved by the State of California since 1974, based on standards established in the California Education Code.[8]
In early 2009, CCU was accepted for Institutional Membership with the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO).[9] AACRAO membership is open to postsecondary, degree-granting institutions accredited by an agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Membership benefits include invitations to participate in workshops and meetings, access to online workshops and courses, and trainings on compliance, FERPA and Federal regulations. AACRAO is a nonprofit, voluntary, professional association of more than 10,000 higher education admissions and registration professionals who represent approximately 2,500 institutions in more than 30 countries. Their mission is to serve and advance higher education by providing leadership in academic and enrollment services.[10]
[edit] References
- ^ "Local FEMA chief had little disaster experience". Seattle Times. September 10, 2005. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002484649_pennington10m.html. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
- ^ "GAO issues report on diploma mills". General Accounting Office. March 2003. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-98881497.html. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
- ^ "Diploma mill crackdown: Officials vow to end feds’ use of suspect degrees". Federal Times. March 2004. http://www.federaltimes.com/index2.php?S=232132. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
- ^ "Local FEMA chief had little disaster experience". Seattle Times. September 10, 2005. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002484649_pennington10m.html. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
- ^ "Two less doctors in the house - Hebert, Wilson back away from Ph.D.'s issued by ‘diploma mills'". Fort Bend Herald. September 28, 2007. http://www.herald-coaster.com/articles/2007/09/28/news/top_story/topstory.txt. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
- ^ "California Coast University". Distance Education and Training Council. 2009. http://www.detc.org/degree.html#coast. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
- ^ http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/InstDetail.asp Office of Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of Education (USDE)
- ^ http://www.cde.ca.gov/BE/ST/
- ^ http://www.calcoast.edu/nw/ccu0709/coastlinev5i3.pdf
- ^ http://www.aacrao.org/about/
