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Controversies prior to 2006: presented new data on KVOA story ~~~~
Controversies prior to 2006: presented new data on international news regarding PWU California~~~~
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In November of 2004, [[investigative journalism|investigative reporters]] from television station [[KVOA]] of [[Tucson, Arizona]], referenced the GAO report along with material they found on Pacific Western University – California’s website and claimed that [[Pima Community College]] in Tucson had reduced the salaries of two faculty members who previously had been paid at the Ph.D level based on their degrees from Pacific Western University - California. <ref name=KVOA><!--http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=2578367&nav=HMO5TF68-->"Investigators: Degrees for Sale" ([http://web.archive.org/web/20070303153957/http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=2578367&nav=HMO5TF68 archived] at the [[Internet Archive]]), KVOA News 4, Tucson, Arizona, November 16, 2004</ref>
In November of 2004, [[investigative journalism|investigative reporters]] from television station [[KVOA]] of [[Tucson, Arizona]], referenced the GAO report along with material they found on Pacific Western University – California’s website and claimed that [[Pima Community College]] in Tucson had reduced the salaries of two faculty members who previously had been paid at the Ph.D level based on their degrees from Pacific Western University - California. <ref name=KVOA><!--http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=2578367&nav=HMO5TF68-->"Investigators: Degrees for Sale" ([http://web.archive.org/web/20070303153957/http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=2578367&nav=HMO5TF68 archived] at the [[Internet Archive]]), KVOA News 4, Tucson, Arizona, November 16, 2004</ref>


Education Services shows that these two professors who are named in the KVOA report, earned doctorate degrees in Science Education and Religious Studies. Neither of these doctorate degree programs were offered by Pacific Western University - California as the University's official website from September 26, 2004 clearly lists.<ref name=PWUCAPhDPrograms2004>[http://web.archive.org/web/20040923020154/http://www.pwu-ca.edu/doctorate_courses.htm]</ref>
Education Services shows that these two professors who are named in the KVOA report, earned doctorate degrees in Science Education and Religious Studies.<ref name=EducationServicesWebsiteGAO>[http://www.eductionservices.us/gaoreport.html], Education Services Website, 2012</ref> Neither of these doctorate degree programs were offered by Pacific Western University - California as the University's official website from September 26, 2004 clearly lists.<ref name=PWUCAPhDPrograms2004>[http://web.archive.org/web/20040923020154/http://www.pwu-ca.edu/doctorate_courses.htm]</ref>


Education Services states:
Education Services states:
''Pacific Western University – California only offered 5 degree programs at the time of the report, 2 “completion” bachelor degree programs one in Public Administration and one in Business Administration (students had to transfer in with at least 75 semester units toward their degree and complete the last 45 semester units of the 120 semester unit program with PWU California); a Masters degree in Management, a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD.) in Business Administration.... It seems clear the station didn't do their research properly.''
''Pacific Western University – California only offered 5 degree programs at the time of the report, 2 “completion” bachelor degree programs one in Public Administration and one in Business Administration (students had to transfer in with at least 75 semester units toward their degree and complete the last 45 semester units of the 120 semester unit program with PWU California); a Masters degree in Management, a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD.) in Business Administration.... It seems clear the station didn't do their research properly.''<ref name=EducationServicesWebsiteGAO>[http://www.eductionservices.us/gaoreport.html], Education Services Website, 2012</ref>


Internationally their were several news stories who mentioned Pacific Western University – California, all of which either referenced the 2004 GAO report as their source and/or quoted other media stories which referenced the GAO as their source. <ref name="GAOReport"/><ref>Stephen Phillips, [http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=199963&sectioncode=26 A stress-free PhD? A snip at $250], [[Times Higher Education]], 25 November 2005</ref>


Internationally, the media responded similarly to Pacific Western University and the GAO Report.<ref name="GAOReport"/><ref>Stephen Phillips, [http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=199963&sectioncode=26 A stress-free PhD? A snip at $250], [[Times Higher Education]], 25 November 2005</ref><ref>David Nason, [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-150383410.html Uni can't find any record of Einfeld], [[Australasian Business Intelligence]], Aug 27, 2006</ref> It was reported in the ''[[Irish Independent]]'' on 9 October 2005 that the Chief Science Advisor to the government of [[Ireland]], [[Barry McSweeney]], had been found to have advanced his career using a degree obtained from Pacific Western University.<ref name=Lynch>Donal Lynch, [http://web.archive.org/web/20060212104857/http://home.eircom.net/content/unison/national/6475970?view=Eircomnet eircom net Degree of doubt for Bertie's boffin], ''[[Irish Independent|The Irish Independent]]'', 9 October 2005</ref><ref>[http://www.labour.ie/press/listing/20051009162932.html Gov must respond to bogus PhD claim on science adviser], The [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Irish Labour Party]] press release, 9 October 2005</ref> The newspaper report stated that McSweeney had obtained his [[Ph.D.]] in [[biotechnology]] and [[biochemistry]] from PWU in 1994 after just 12 months of study. The article went on to say "There is no question that Mr McSweeney has anything other than a distinguished track record in business. He has a degree in biochemistry from UCC and a Masters degree in clinical biochemistry from TCD. He was also in charge of the Marie Curie Fellowships, an EU-wide programme which has been credited with helping more than 35,000 scientists develop their careers. Mr McSweeney has been widely praised for his role in expanding this programme." It further described PWU as having "no merit or standing in the academic world" and having been "the subject of numerous official investigations, state bans and media exposés" during its 28 years of operation.<ref name=Lynch/> McSweeney was forced to resign his position as a result although the article stated that McSweeney had made no attempt to conceal the details of his education and that he was "proud" of his doctorate and "stood over it" and that he considered PWU California to be a "respected" and recognized body." Mr McSweeny's spokesperson went on to add: "Barry stands over his doctorate.... He has a degree from UCC, significant life experience, and was the director-general of the Joint Research Institute. I can't believe you're writing this." <ref>[http://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/22837/ Scandal forces out Irish science head], ''The Scientist'', 6(1):20051121-01, 21 November 2005</ref> In [[Australia]], a lecturer at the [[University of Southern Queensland]] was banned from using the title of "Doctor" after it was discovered that his Ph.D. had been obtained from Pacific Western University. This article also noted that PWU was listed as approved on two California state websites.<ref>[http://www.nghtrainingireland.com/html/article.html Accredited or Unaccredited?], by Martin Kiely, National Guild of Hypnotists</ref>
It was reported in the ''[[Irish Independent]]'' on 9 October 2005 that the Chief Science Adviser to the government of [[Ireland]], [[Barry McSweeney]], had been found to have advanced his career using a doctorate degree in [[biochemistry]] allegedly earned at Pacific Western University - California.<ref name=Lynch>Donal Lynch, [http://web.archive.org/web/20060212104857/http://home.eircom.net/content/unison/national/6475970?view=Eircomnet eircom net Degree of doubt for Bertie's boffin], ''[[Irish Independent|The Irish Independent]]'', 9 October 2005</ref><ref>[http://www.labour.ie/press/listing/20051009162932.html Gov must respond to bogus PhD claim on science adviser], The [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Irish Labour Party]] press release, 9 October 2005</ref>

To quote Education Services, the official custodian of records for PWU California on Mr. McSweeney’s degree:
''Once again, this is a degree that Pacific Western University – California did not offer, and our records confirm that this adviser was not an alumni of Pacific Western University – California....Here is a horrible example of media completely misstating the facts. Pacific Western University – California was a California State Approved University and the media could easily have found this fact and researched the qualities that encompassed California State Approval. The facts we have presented in this material were readily available on the internet at the time these media articles were written, but the truth doesn’t make for such a sensational story.''<ref name=EducationServicesWebsiteGAO>[http://www.eductionservices.us/gaoreport.html], Education Services Website, 2012</ref>


==Alumni==
==Alumni==

Revision as of 17:34, 24 January 2012

California Miramar University
Seal of California Miramar University
MottoScientia Potentia Est
Motto in English
"Knowledge is Power"
TypePrivate
PresidentDr. Dominic Mwenja
DeanDr. Bijan Massrour
Location, ,
CampusUrban
ColorsDark Red   Blue   Gold  
Websitehttp://www.calmu.edu

California Miramar University (CMU), is a nationally accredited private proprietary institution of higher learning and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation [1][2] and the United States Department of Education.[3] CMU offers a wide range of degree and certificate programs through online/E-learning delivery, distance education deliver, a combination on-line and classroom (hybrid) delivery and through traditional classroom delivery. The university is based in San Diego, California. The school was named Pacific Western University and was located in Los Angeles, California from 1977 to 2005.[4]

History

California Miramar University was established as Pacific Western University in February 1977.[5] Pacific Western University operated in the Brentwood, California suburb of Los Angeles for its first twenty years, and then moved to the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, where it remained until relocating to San Diego, California in January 2006. The name change to California Miramar University happened in approximately March or April 2007.

According to Inside Higher Education, the school changed its name because it was under new ownership and management, had changed location and wanted to emphasize that the new ownership no longer had any connection with PWU Hawaii.[6] The article said that the school wanted to distance itself from past controversies and that it had filed for national accreditation.[6] The university also made reference to a change in ownership and management on its website in 2007.[5]

The California Post-Secondary Education Commission lists CMU's date of establishment as 2005 [4] and the Distance Education and Training Counsel likewise lists CMU's date of foundation as 2005.[7]

Accreditation

On June 6, 2009, California Miramar received accreditation by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC),[7] and on December 18, 2009, CMU was awarded a second accreditation from the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS).[8] Both DETC and ACICS are recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the United States Department of Education as official accrediting bodies.

Prior to 2007 CMU received approval to operate from the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education (BPPVE).[4] With the passage of new California Private Postsecondary Act of 2009[9] California Miramar University is approved to operate under the newly formed Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE)[10][11] through December 2013.

Recognition

On August 22, 2011 California Miramar University's MBA Program was named as one of the top ten MBA programs in San Diego by the San Diego Business Journal. [12] According to a Yahoo! News Article "Topping the list was National University (#1) and San Diego State University (#2). One notable difference between the schools listed is the cost of tuition. California Miramar University stands out amongst all those included in the list for having the most affordable tuition, just $5,752 per year. California Miramar University’s MBA program is offered via MBA Hybrid or 100% online. ... The faculty members at CMU drive the University's innovative capacity as experts in their fields because of their combined academic and professional knowledge and expertise. At California Miramar University, faculty members are chosen not only based upon their academic qualifications, but for their desire to teach and share their first hand professional experience." [13]

Degree programs

California Miramar University offers the following degree programs and certificate programs in English as a Second Language (ESL) and Hospitality Management. The undergraduate level degrees includes separate majors in the Business Administration degree program. The graduate level degrees include six separate majors in the Masters of Business Administration degree program and four separate majors in the Doctor of Business Administration degree program.

Undergraduate programs

School of Business and Management

Graduate programs

School of Business and Management

Certificate programs

Memberships

CMU is DANTES/VA DSST approved and offers several special programs for members of the United States Military, enabling members of the armed forces to continue their education through both distance, hybrid and classroom based learning, even while on active duty. In some cases, military experience and coursework may be accepted as transferable units.

CMU is also a member of the following organizations:

  • American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO)
  • Education USA
  • Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) DSST
  • Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA)
  • Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC)
  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
  • Western Association of Veteran Education Specialists (WAVES)
  • Yellow Ribbon America
  • GoArmyEd
  • College Board
  • Concurrent Admissions Program for Army Enlistees (ConAP)
  • San Diego Better Business Bureau (BBB)
  • San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SDCHCC)
  • San Diego North Chamber of Commerce (SDNCC)
  • San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
  • California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools (CAPPS)
  • Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS)
  • Distance Education and Training Council (DETC)
  • Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)

Controversies prior to 2006

There were three separate Pacific Western University programs that legally operated from 1976 through 2005. Each of these schools were separately incorporated, were located in separate states, operating under separate state laws and regulations, and offered separate degree programs, with separate curriculum and academic standards.[14] Over the the years specific reports and news stories reportedly associated with Pacific Western University - California were actually the information concerning one of the other Pacific Western University schools.[15]

Such is the case of the US Government Accountability Office who on May 11, 2004 presented the results of an eight-month examination to the diploma mills or.[16]

According to the report the investigation was conducted to determine whether the federal government had paid for, or governmental officials possessed, degrees from unaccredited schools including diploma mills. After the passage of the Homeland Security Act, Section 4107 of tile 5, U.S. Code was amended and became law in 2002, the federal government could pay for the cost of academic degree training for federal employees only if the college or university providing that training was accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body. To quote the report:

We conducted our investigation from July 2003 through February 2004, in accordance with quality standards for investigations as set forth by the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency. We searched the Internet for nontraditional, unaccredited, postsecondary schools that offer degrees for a relatively low flat fee, promote the award of academic credits based on life experience,and do not require any classroom instruction.

The GAO report later states:

Purporting to be a prospective student, our investigators placed telephone calls to three schools that award academic credit based on life experience and require no classroom instruction: Barrington University (Mobile, Alabama) Lacrosse University (Bay St Louis Mississippi) and Pacific Western University (Los Angeles, California.) These schools each charge a flat rate fee for a degree. For example, fees for degrees for domestic students at Pacific Western University are as follows: Bachelor of Science($2,295);Master's Degrees in Business Administration($2,395); and PhD ($2,595.)

Education Services, in research they conducted and published on their websites as official custodian of records for Pacific Western University – California since 2007 and Pacific Western University – Hawaii since 2006 however, show that the details published in the 2004 GAO report conclusively show that the GAO referenced information that was specific to Pacific Western University – Hawaii and not Pacific Western University – California. [17]

The Pacific Western University tuition information that is found at the archived site for Pacific Western University - California from January 21, 2004[18] did not match the figures listed in the report. The Pacific Western University - California tuition was not flat rate and tuition was charged on a per course basis, included other fees and the total was nearly four times the flat rate tuition reported by the GAO.

However, when the internet archives of the website for Pacific Western University – Hawaii that were archived from February 11th , 2004 [19] were checked, it was found that the Hawaii tuition listed on the website was a flat rate tuition that was an exact match of the tuition the GAO listed in their report.

Education Services states: This conclusively shows that when the GAO searched the internet for schools that met their search criteria, they visited the Pacific Western University – Hawaii website, not the Pacific Western University – California website. The GAO simply confused the two schools when reporting the findings of their investigation. In a way, the mistake by the GAO is understandable. The Pacific Western University - Hawaii website does identify an Administrative office for Pacific Western University – Hawaii which is located in Los Angeles, California even thought the school is clearly located in Hawaii.

Much of controversy surrounding the 2004 GAO Report surrounds their use of the terms “Unaccredited Schools” and “Diploma Mills.” The GAO sometimes used the two terms almost interchangeably, but in the body of the report itself, the GAO separates one term from the other and clearly defines their labeling process.[16]

Accreditation of degree-granting institutions in the United States is a voluntary process. Unaccredited schools, and the quality of education they offer, vary significantly. At one end of the spectrum are schools that offer standard curricula traditionally found at accredited universities. Other schools, commonly referred to as diploma mills, sell academic degrees based upon life experience or substandard or negligible academic work. Some diploma mills require no academic work at all and merely sell degrees for a fee, such as those we discussed in our November 2002 report.

Pacific Western University – California was California State Approved by the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education (BPPVE) at the time of the 2004 GAO report and this fact was present on every page of their website in 2004.[18] The following is an expert from the California State Law Governing the Approval to Operate as a California Private Postsecondary degree granting institution that Education Services refers to on its website.[15] These materials are available through web architraves at the following reference citation.[20] These were the California State laws and regulations that Pacific Western University - California operated under before, during and after the 2004 GAO report:

a No private postsecondary educational institution may issue, confer, or award an academic or honorary degree unless the institution is approved by the council to operate in California and award degrees. The council shall not issue an approval under paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 94901 or a conditional approval under paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 94901 until it has conducted a qualitative review and assessment of, and has approved, each degree program offered by the institution, and all of the operations of the institution, and has determined all of the following:

1 The institution has the facilities, financial resources, administrative capabilities, faculty, and other necessary educational expertise and resources to ensure its capability of fulfilling the program or programs for enrolled students.

2 The faculty are fully qualified to undertake the level of instruction that they are assigned and shall possess degrees or credentials appropriate to the degree program and level they teach and have demonstrated professional achievement in the major field or fields offered, in sufficient numbers to provide the educational services.

3 The education services and curriculum clearly relate to the objectives of the proposed program or programs and offer students the opportunity for a quality education.

4 The facilities are appropriate for the defined educational objectives and are sufficient to ensure quality educational services to the students enrolled in the program or programs.

5 The program of study for which the degree is granted provides the curriculum necessary to achieve its professed or claimed academic objective for higher education, and the institution requires a level of academic achievement appropriate to that degree.

6 The institution provides adequate student advisement services, academic planning and curriculum development activities, research supervision for students enrolled in Ph.D. programs, and clinical supervision for students enrolled in various health profession programs.

7 If the institution offers credit for prior experiential learning it may do so only after an evaluation by qualified faculty and only in disciplines within the institution's curricular offerings that are appropriate to the degree to be pursued. The council shall develop specific standards regarding the criteria for awarding credit for prior experiential learning at the graduate level, including the maximum number of hours for which credit may be awarded.

b The approval process shall include a qualitative review and assessment of all of the following:

1 Institutional purpose, mission, and objectives.

2 Governance and administration.

3 Curriculum.

4 Instruction.

5 Faculty, including their qualifications.

6 Physical facilities.

7 Administrative personnel.

8 Procedures for keeping educational records.

9 Tuition, fee, and refund schedules.

10 Admissions standards.

11 Financial aid policies and practices.

12 Scholastic regulations and graduation requirements.

13 Ethical principles and practices.

14 Library and other learning resources.

15 Student activities and services.

16 Degrees offered.

Education Services states:[17] Although California State Approval is not accreditation, the simple reading of the standards and procedures involved with California State Approval provides any student attending a California State Approved Institution (and the GAO) assurance of the quality and integrity of the education.

In November of 2004, investigative reporters from television station KVOA of Tucson, Arizona, referenced the GAO report along with material they found on Pacific Western University – California’s website and claimed that Pima Community College in Tucson had reduced the salaries of two faculty members who previously had been paid at the Ph.D level based on their degrees from Pacific Western University - California. [21]

Education Services shows that these two professors who are named in the KVOA report, earned doctorate degrees in Science Education and Religious Studies.[15] Neither of these doctorate degree programs were offered by Pacific Western University - California as the University's official website from September 26, 2004 clearly lists.[22]

Education Services states: Pacific Western University – California only offered 5 degree programs at the time of the report, 2 “completion” bachelor degree programs one in Public Administration and one in Business Administration (students had to transfer in with at least 75 semester units toward their degree and complete the last 45 semester units of the 120 semester unit program with PWU California); a Masters degree in Management, a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD.) in Business Administration.... It seems clear the station didn't do their research properly.[15]

Internationally their were several news stories who mentioned Pacific Western University – California, all of which either referenced the 2004 GAO report as their source and/or quoted other media stories which referenced the GAO as their source. [16][23]

It was reported in the Irish Independent on 9 October 2005 that the Chief Science Adviser to the government of Ireland, Barry McSweeney, had been found to have advanced his career using a doctorate degree in biochemistry allegedly earned at Pacific Western University - California.[24][25]

To quote Education Services, the official custodian of records for PWU California on Mr. McSweeney’s degree: Once again, this is a degree that Pacific Western University – California did not offer, and our records confirm that this adviser was not an alumni of Pacific Western University – California....Here is a horrible example of media completely misstating the facts. Pacific Western University – California was a California State Approved University and the media could easily have found this fact and researched the qualities that encompassed California State Approval. The facts we have presented in this material were readily available on the internet at the time these media articles were written, but the truth doesn’t make for such a sensational story.[15]

Alumni

See also

References

  1. ^ [1] CHEA List of Recognized Institutions DETC
  2. ^ [2] CHEA List of Recognized Institutions ACICS
  3. ^ [3] U.S. Department of Education List of Recognized Institutions
  4. ^ a b c California Miramar University in Guide to California Colleges and Universities, California Post-Secondary Education Commission (accessed June 7, 2008)
  5. ^ a b History, Pacific Western University website, archived May 17, 2007
  6. ^ a b Thacker, Paul (2006-12-15). "What's in a Name?". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved 2007-07-04. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  7. ^ a b DETC 2009-2010 Directory of Accredited Institutions, DETC
  8. ^ ACICS Council Actions December 2009
  9. ^ California Private Postsecondary Act of 2009
  10. ^ [4] BPPE Official Website
  11. ^ BPPE List of Approved Schools
  12. ^ San Diego Business Journal List of Top 10 MBA Programs in San Diego
  13. ^ Yahoo! News
  14. ^ [5], Education Services Website, 2012
  15. ^ a b c d e [6], Education Services Website, 2012
  16. ^ a b c Diploma Mills: Federal Employees Have Obtained Degrees from Diploma Mills and Other Unaccredited Schools, Some at Government Expense, United States General Accounting Office, Testimony before the Committee on Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate, May 11, 2004
  17. ^ a b [7]
  18. ^ a b [8] Cite error: The named reference "PWUCAtuition" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  19. ^ [9]
  20. ^ [10]
  21. ^ "Investigators: Degrees for Sale" (archived at the Internet Archive), KVOA News 4, Tucson, Arizona, November 16, 2004
  22. ^ [11]
  23. ^ Stephen Phillips, A stress-free PhD? A snip at $250, Times Higher Education, 25 November 2005
  24. ^ Donal Lynch, eircom net Degree of doubt for Bertie's boffin, The Irish Independent, 9 October 2005
  25. ^ Gov must respond to bogus PhD claim on science adviser, The Irish Labour Party press release, 9 October 2005
  26. ^ The Buffalo News (March 1, 1995) Author covering O.J. Trial to Speak. Local section, page B6.
  27. ^ Biography of Mutharika on Official Website of the Government of Malawi, accessed May 16, 2008
  28. ^ Biographical Sketch: David C. Reardon, Ph.D., Elliot Institute website (accessed June 7, 2008)
  29. ^ Eddy Shell Obituary ShreveportTimes.com
  30. ^ Registration Statement of Shanda Interactive Entertainment Ltd, Retrieved on 2010-07-06
  31. ^ Former Microsoft chief Tang Jun fights back, People's Daily Online, Retrieved on 2010-07-07
  32. ^ Sam Vaknin (2000). After the Rain: How the West Lost the East. Narcissus Publications,Czech Republic. p. 276. ISBN 80-238-5173-X.
  33. ^ Biography of Dan Voiculescu (in Romanian), website of Dan Voiculescu Foundation for Romania's Development, accessed November 20, 2008
  34. ^ Film Screenings, Hyderabad CMS Vatavaran 2006 Environment and Wildlife Traveling Film Festival, 7 – 9 December 2006, Indira Priyadarshini Auditorium, Hyderabad. Accessed November 14, 2010