Ashford Accredited!

[OtherSyde]

Hi everyone. I've been absent for awhile, but I thought I'd drop back in to spread some good news I just got in my Inbox that makes me very happy.

As many of you know, Ashford University, owned by Bridgepoint Education in San Diego has been under some heavy scrutiny in the last year or two. Basically, over the last couple of years, they went on a profit-driven marketing frenzy, enrolling something like 90,000 students online while only retaining a few thousand at their home campus in Iowa; between this "lack of significant presence" in their greographical area (Northwest Region) and their decision to put almost all of their effort into hiring admissions counselors and recruiters while letting the funding (and subsequently the quality) of their actual educational faculty deteriorate in favor of marketing and profit, the WASC was threatening to pull their accreditation by early 2014. Obviously, this has had a lot of people worried - namely me, since I was planning to contine on to my Masters after finishing my Bachelors there. To my gret relief, it looks like Ashford has drastically improved itself at the behest of the WASC and the Higher Learning Commission - I just got this email about five minutes ago:

Dear Ashford students,

Over the past year, Ashford University has been pursuing accreditation with the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WASC). Today, I am very pleased to announce that Ashford has been granted Initial Accreditation with WASC (985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100, Alameda, CA, 94501, 510.748.9001).

This is exciting news for Ashford and it represents the culmination of a great deal of work from numerous individuals at our University. It also shows that we listened to WASC feedback and accelerated changes that were already underway to meet their requirements and to support greater student success. In fact, WASC’s accreditation review process, which included rigorous reporting and multiple site visits by representatives of the accrediting body, proved to be a beneficial endeavor that elevated Ashford University as an educator and institution.

It is worth noting that, within their final report, the WASC visiting team found “an institution that has been fundamentally transformed and whose culture has been changed in significant ways, including a shift from a market driven approach to an institution committed to student retention and success, a transformation that is enthusiastically supported by the Board of Trustees, the new President, administration, faculty and staff.” (A copy of the entire WASC report and/or Commission action letter can be obtained from Ashford University or on the WASC website at Home | WASC Senior College and University Commission.)

In the coming months, our goal is to work with WASC and our current accrediting body – the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges (HLC) – to execute a seamless transition with no disruption to students.

As always, we remain committed to continual improvement and to the strengthening of Ashford University.

Sincerely,

DR. RICHARD PATTENAUDE / PRESIDENT
Ashford University / Technology Changes Everything™
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JOIN THE CONVERSATION: ashford.edu/social

I would have been fine either way since I complete my Bachelors in 2 weeks, but it's good to know I'm not going to have to explain to potential employers that my degree is accredited, even though my school lost accreditation shortly after I graduated. Hopefully Ashford can re-earn its reputation along with its accreditation.

BTW, I probably won't be dropping by these forums much anymore since CLEP's and DSST's don't help you with a Masters, but I would like to thank everyone in this community - and also InstantCert - for helping me nail 20 exams and complete my Bachelors in about a year and a half.


Cheers!

James

[Tayon]

Well great job and hope they get back the street cred! Also posting on the wiki your degree plan can possibly help people out with out needing to stop by the forums Good luck to you in your Masters!

[OtherSyde]

Wait, there's a Wiki here? Where? I can download my entire degree plan in PDF format; can I post that in the Wiki?

[Kaz]

Degree Forum Wiki

[OtherSyde]

Nice. OK, I edited the Ashford entry on the "Other Schools" wiki page, citing three in-text sources. I can download my degree plan showing where all my CLEP and DSST credits transferred to, but it has my name and address on it, so I'll have to print it and then re-scan it into PDF format after blanking out my personal info. I'll get it uploaded as soon as I can. Thanks!

[OtherSyde]

WHOOO!! Submitted my Final Paper just a couple hours ago... I'm DONE with my Bachelors! YEAH!

[OtherSyde]

OK... can someone tell me how to upload a PDF file to the Wikia? I've got my completed BA plan with annotations ready to go, but I'm apparently too retarded to figure out how to contribute it to the Wikia for others to view/review. Can you even upload PDF's to the Wikia? Or do I have to upload it to some other hosting file server and then link to it in a Wikia article..? O.o

[brucet3]

For profit colleges should be AVOIDED LIKE THE PLAGUE.

Its their fiduciary duty to make as much money as possible, not to give a quality education to as many students as they can.

In other words... Cash first, Cash second, Cash third, Students last. That's not what the future of education should be about.