CCNH Gets USDLA Cert

[Don Dresden]

http://www.ccnh.edu/mediafiles/pressrele...42208.html

Clayton College of Natural Health Awarded Quality Certification by United States Distance Learning Association

04.23.2008, Birmingham—Clayton College of Natural Health has been awarded the Quality Standards Certification by the United States Distance Learning Association.

USDLA/QS certification is “a standards based program that recognizes excellence across a range of distance learning settings,” according to Dr. John G. Flores, USDLA Chief Executive Officer. Clayton College has been certified as an Alternative and Continuing Education provider under the Quality Standards program. Based on a rigorous peer review process, it is designed both to protect the public and to improve the distance learning experience.

“USDLA Quality Standards certification is a stringent program. The college can be justifiably proud of its accomplishment,” said Dr. Flores. “Even greater, though, is the confidence this gives students. With certification comes the assurance of fair treatment within a strong, responsive distance learning program. And because ‘continuous improvement’ is built–in — the school gets better and better!”

A school undergoing the certification process must agree to abide by the USDLA/QS Code of Conduct and complete a lengthy self–study. The certification process culminates with an on–site review by a USDLA site team, including interviews with faculty, staff, and students, to verify the institution’s compliance with the Standards of Practice.

“The USDLA Quality Certification is an important validation of the high quality of Clayton College and its programs,” said Clayton College CEO Dr. Bernard Feld.

The USDLA site team, chaired by Dr. Jan McMahill, Dean of the School of Education at Drake University, found that Clayton College “met or exceeded our expectations throughout.”

USDLA/QS certification is awarded for a five–year period, subject to continued satisfactory performance, adherence to the Code of Conduct, and an integral program of continuous improvement.

As is invariably noted elsewhere, CCNH is not accredited by any agency recognized by the US Department of Education.  However, such accreditation does not appear to be "standards-based."  When a legitimate "standards-based" evaluation is made, CCNH passes without problem.  How many RA or NA programs can make the same claim?  

[Herbert Spencer]

As is invariably noted elsewhere, CCNH is not accredited by any agency recognized by the US Department of Education.  However, such accreditation does not appear to be "standards-based."  When a legitimate "standards-based" evaluation is made, CCNH passes without problem.  How many RA or NA programs can make the same claim?  

Accreditation is the higher ed equivalent of gerrymandering.  Once entrenched, the wealthy and powerful interests maneuver the system to preserve their status and simultaneously prevent newcomers from gaining traction.  Accreditation has little meaning as a standards-based measure of quality.  If it weren't for its function as the de facto gatekeeper for federally guaranteed student loans it would have no academic relevance at all.  

CCNH, as an outsider, has taken a positive step toward promoting a valid and verifiable standards-based evaluation.  It would be great if those in the DoEd who have been pounding (unsuccessfully) on the RAs for standards would embrace this type of evaluation, perhaps as an alternative to RA.  If the feds were to say, in effect, no federal loans unless your school meets standards like those of the USDLA, the RAs would have no choice but to comply.  Federal tax money is to RAs what Ketracel White is to the Jem'Hadar.  They've been bred to be reliant on it, and when it is withheld they must comply or die.

[Little Arminius]

Herb Spencer wrote (in part):
Federal tax money is to RAs what Ketracel White is to the Jem'Hadar.

Holy crap, Herb, I feel like a cultural illiterate. Not as much as if I were a Lutheran minister in some small church in the boonies of Indiana, but close.

[ham]

Ketracel White is to the Jem'Hadar.

it's Star Trek stuff...those uncanny creatures that populate the color-blind, affirmative-acting, lefty liberal universe of the sequel serials...
PS a bare remake of the duality Zentraedi VS Robotech masters in the early 1980s cartoon ROBOTECH (which was by the way three distinct Japanese series stitched together )...