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Warnborough College

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The name Warnborough is associated with several related institutions of higher education existing in the period between 1973 and the present, including Warnborough College Oxford, Warnborough University, Warnborough College, and Warnborough College Ireland. Warnborough offers non-accredited distance-learning education from the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Warnborough College Oxford (1973–1996)

Warnborough College at Oxford was founded in Oxford, England, in 1973 by Brenden Tempest-Mogg, an Australian,[1] who had attended Hertford College in 1970.[2] In no way affiliated with the University of Oxford, it offered study abroad programs and catered largely to American undergraduate and graduate students who would spend a semester or year abroad as part of their academic program.[3] Other offerings included Warnborough College International Summer Schools,[4] and a venue for summer conferences.[5] It was founded on Warnborough Road in North Oxford in 1973, and moved to Yatscombe Hall, former home to the Greek scholar Gilbert Murray and Lord Shawcross, at Boars Hill, about four miles from the city of Oxford, in 1976.[2] The Boars Hill facilities included a lodge for the teaching staff and two Victorian Gothic mansions, one used as the women's dorm and one used as a men's dorm and for classes.[6]

In 1985, Warnborough College began offering a study abroad program in Sydney, Australia as well, and later expanded to Brisbane.[7]

Notable former students of Warnborough College Oxford include former surgeon and businessman Kneeland Youngblood,[8] In 1995 Warnborough enrolled its first group of students on-site in a four-year academic program.

Warnborough generated controversy for representing itself as being related to Oxford University. Oxford University threatened Warnborough College with a lawsuit over these misrepresentations[9] and Warnborough was sued, together with its president and Mark Huck, its recruiting coordinator in Seattle, by the Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board.[6][10] and by former students. The lawsuit by former students resulted in a judgment against Warnborough College by the Superior Court of King County, Washington of nearly $300,000.[11] Hertford College was reported to be pursuing legal action against Warnborough College to recover a property rental debt of 6,000 pounds, and other creditors owed tens of thousands of pounds hired private detectives to track down the principals after they abruptly returned to Australia.[12] [2][13] [14]In October 1995, the United States Department of Education suspended,[15] and 1996 it terminated the eligibility of Warnborough College UK to participate in the federal student financial assistance programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 on the basis that (i) it was not a degree-granting institution, (ii) its credits were not freely transferable; and (iii) it had no eligible vocational programs. It also fined the college for (i) failing to make refunds to students in accord with Title IV and Warnborough's own refund policies; and (ii) responsibility for misrepresentations to students that it was a part of Oxford University and had degree-granting authority.[16] Due to resulting financial problems, the Boars Hill properties were repossessed by creditors, and its corporate owner, Oxford International Educational Enterprises Ltd, directed by brothers Brenden and Daryl Tempest-Mogg and their mother, Ethel Tempest-Mogg, wound up on a petition by Inland Revenue. In the summer of 1996, Warnborough relocated temporarily to offices rented from New Road Baptist Church in Central Oxford. The Tempest-Moggs returned to Australia in July 1996, and the New Road office closed in August 1996.[2]

Distance education programs

In 1997 Warnborough University registered as a limited company in Ireland, directed by Brenden Tempest-Mogg and Kee Guan Ng, a Malaysian national,[1] now operating from offices in London.

In November 2005, the Department of Education and Science said that Warnborough University in Ireland was in breach of the Universities Act 1997 by calling itself a university, and requested that they not use the word "university" to describe themselves.[17] In January 2006 Warnborough in Ireland registered as Warnborough College.

Warnborough College (UK) is located in Canterbury, Kent, and Warnborough College (IE) has offices in Dublin.

Warnborough College (IE) initially had a registered office in Cork, and later opened offices in a business center in Bray. For two years it rented offices from All Hallows College in Drumcondra. In February 2008, the Irish Independent reported that All Hallows officials were concerned that Warnborough had falsely represented itself as linked to All Hallows, which had no involvement in Warnborough's academic programs or arrangements. At All Hallow's request, Warnborough removed photographs of All Hallows from its website. All Hallows said that it would not renew Warnborough's lease after August 2008.[1]

Warnborough College (IE) offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of disciplines, principally by distance learning. Warnborough College (UK) issues certificates and diplomas, but not degrees, in a number of short-course vocational and personal-enrichment subjects, exclusively by distance learning.[18] Warnborough's distance-education bookkeeping courses lead to Level 1 and Level 2 certification from the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers.[19] Warnborough College UK is a member of the Association of Business Executives (ABE) and offers tuition services for students sitting for the ABE short courses, covering business management and tourism and hospitality. Warnborough is in an academic partnership with St. Theresa's Medical University (St. Kitts) for automatic admission of holders of Warnborough College (UK) Pre-Medical diplomas and issuance of dual degrees with Warnborough College (IE).[20]

Accreditation

Warnborough College (UK) does not offer British degrees.

In July 2008, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) announced that it had denied Warnborough College(IE)'s application for accreditation because Warnborough failed to agree to quality-control procedures, which was the first step in the accreditation process. [21]

Warnborough College (IE) courses are not recognized by Ireland's Department of Education, HETAC, or the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI). In February 2008, Sean O'Foghlu, chief executive of NQAI told the Irish Independent that because Warnborough College is not a recognised higher education institution or awarding body, the qualifications are "effectively worthless." [1]

In November 2008, these issues were challenged in the Irish High Court. Warnborough College (IE) won the right to have its application reviewed since HETAC did not have an appeals process, and HETAC was ordered to pay all legal costs. [22]

Warnborough degrees are not accepted in Texas,[23] Oregon,[24] by Michigan civil service,[25] Maine [26] or in Australia. A Warnborough degree is not accepted in South Korea for purposes of obtaining an E-2 Visa.[27][28]

The Warnborough U.K. web site says Warnborough U.K. is accredited by the International Accreditation and Recognition Council (IARC).[29] The IARC lists Warnborough as "recognized" by and a member of the organization,[30] but its website states that its recognition of an institution "does not guarantee any sort of acceptance by any particular country or government"[31] and "should not be seen as a replacement to any National system (of accreditation) presently existing, but as an adjunct to it." [32]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Phelan, Shane (2008-02-15), "College charges €18,000 fees for 'useless' degrees", Irish Independent {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b c d King, Tim (1996-10-25). Oxford College Sued in US is Repossessed. The Daily Telegraph(UK)
  3. ^ Queensland Courier-Mail, November 10, 1993, Residential Property section, p. 35
  4. ^ "Vacationing at an Overseas University", The New York Times, 1981-01-18
  5. ^ The Guardian, 1990-02-19 {{citation}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ^ a b "Students Find Warnborough Is Not A Part Of Oxford", Seattle Times, 1995-10-11
  7. ^ Warnborough College Overview (From Internet Archive)
  8. ^ Dr. Kneeland Youngblood Biography (interviewed on 2004-10-28, The HistoryMakers website)
  9. ^ O'Leary,John and Charter, David, US students say college misled them over link with Oxford The Times (London) (October 3, 1995)
  10. ^ "Americans Say a College Near Oxford Duped Them", The New York Times, 1995-10-02
  11. ^ News In Brief: State Capitols Roundup, Education Week (March 12, 1997)
  12. ^ Pritikin, Susan (1996-10-31) College? What College? Cherwell(Oxford, UK)
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference Times96 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Phelan, Shane Chequered history of controversial college Irish Independent (February 15, 2008)
  15. ^ In Re Warnborough College, US Dept of Education Docket No 95-146-EA ((Dec 6, 1995)
  16. ^ In Re Warnborough College, US Dept of Education Docket Nos. 95-164-ST, 96-60-SF (Aug 9, 1996)
  17. ^ "Exposed: scandal of the bogus degrees", Irish Independent, 2005-11-14
  18. ^ Warnborough College | Distance Education | Correspondence | Home Study Courses | e-Learning
  19. ^ Recommended Bookkeeping Courses
  20. ^ STMU Dual Degree Program
  21. ^ O'Sullivan, Sarah, "Authorities refuse to recognize web college" The Sunday Times July 18, 2008
  22. ^ "College will fight on for recognition" The Irish Independent November 11, 2008
  23. ^ Institutions Whose Degrees are Illegal to Use in Texas
  24. ^ Unaccredited Colleges, Oregon State Office of Degree Authorization
  25. ^ Colleges and Universities Not Accredited by CHEA
  26. ^ Maine state law restricts the use of false academic credentials, including those granted by unaccredited institutions; Warnborough appears on the state's list of unaccredited instutions.[1]
  27. ^ ▒ ESL Teacher Placement Agency - EnglishWork ▒
  28. ^ ::Koreapot::
  29. ^ http://www.warnborough.ac.uk/general/accreditation.aspx (accessed May 9, 2008)
  30. ^ IARC Directory of members (accessed January 25, 2008)
  31. ^ International Recognition for Education and Accredited Courses
  32. ^ IARC Mission Statement

See also

External links

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