University of Santa Barbara to reopen.

[dhfr]

The University of Santa Barbara (unrelated to University of California, Santa Barbara) has received temporary degree-granting approval from the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education.

Unfortunately, I don't have a publically accessible URL for this story. But here's a link to an article in the Santa Barbara News-Press (which requires subscription): http://news.newspress.com/topsports/122404university.htm

[Rich Douglas]

Interesting. I wonder if they're under the same management?

The University of Santa Barbara was created as Laurence University by former administrators of the Laurence University in Florida. Laurence in Florida became the University of Sarasota (and then Argosy University when it merged with another school).

They were successful in getting their programs through California Approval back when that process meant something. Short-residency degree programs in a few areas. There was a time when it looked like they would pursue accreditation from WASC, but it didn't happen.

[J]

They were successful in getting their programs through California Approval back when that process meant something.

It still does.

The BPPVE is doing a good job of allowing a wide range of alternative schools to flourish, while keeping diploma mills out of CA.

CA-approved schools aren't right for everybody, but their approval meets a recognized quality standard and deserves some respect.

[Rich Douglas]

It still does.

The BPPVE is doing a good job of allowing a wide range of alternative schools to flourish, while keeping diploma mills out of CA.

CA-approved schools aren't right for everybody, but their approval meets a recognized quality standard and deserves some respect.

I realize this is a matter of opinion, so debating it isn't very useful, and I don't mean to do that. I would just remind folks that this is the same BPPVE that is now run by the California Department of Consumer Affairs, a decidedly non-educative body. Also, their scope increased tremendously since the implementation of the 1989 changes, diluting their ability to do their mission. The bar was lowered significantly, allowing schools that had never before been approved to operate degree programs (operating under the "Authorized" category, now eliminated) to be institutionally approved.

As far as diploma mills go, I guess that is subject to one's definition of a diploma mill. I like to think that any school that is approved in California is not a diploma mill. Others do not agree. I also think California does a better job than Wyoming or Alabama. Finally, I truly believe California does a much worse job (at the approved level) than before 1989, mainly for the reasons above. (But even that change had a good effect--it drove many bad schools out of the state or even into oblivion by eliminating the Authorized category.)

If someone is confident that a degree from an unaccredited school will meet their present and future needs, then approval by the BPPVE would be very reassuring. And has been demonstrated elsewhere, there are some really good schools operating with California Approval. And J's statements seem entirely consistent with that. I agree.

Rich Douglas, Ph.D.