MyWay Transfer Update: Non-degree awarding course provider

[bjcheung77]

We show you expressed interest or are currently enrolled in our MyWay at UMHB program. We’ve recently updated our transferability on credits from non-degree awarding institutions and wanted to share.

As stated in the MyWay Catalog, college-level coursework will be recognized from United States colleges and universities accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Credits from non-degree awarding college course providers are not accepted as transfer credits into the MyWay program.

For more information on how credits are evaluated for transferability, please refer to the catalog: https://umhb.smartcatalogiq.com/2021-202...-of-Credit

MyWay at UMHB will no longer accept these non-degree credits including credits from providers such as StraighterLine, Sophia Learning, and Study.com as they are not recognized by CHEA accreditation as transfer credits, effective March 1, 2022. 

MyWay will honor pre-approved credits from the previously mentioned programs for enrolled students and prospective students.

If you have any concerns regarding your transfer credits, please feel free to email the MyWay admissions office: myway@umhb.edu.

-MyWay at UMHB Team

[rachel83az]

Ouch!

[sanantone]

That sucks. At least they don't distinguish between RA and NA.

[Tedium]

Oh, wow, that sucks. Looks like they are taking the same stance as NationsUniversity. I wonder if that policy applies to CLEP as well?

[Jonathan Whatley]

MyWay at UMHB will no longer accept these non-degree credits including credits from providers such as StraighterLine, Sophia Learning, and Study.com as they are not recognized by CHEA accreditation as transfer credits, effective March 1, 2022. 

Update: UMHB might have opened the door part way to alt-credit since. The Transfer of Credit page in the 2023-2024 MyWay catalog states "Students may transfer in 30% or less of total program credit hours from non-degree awarding college course providers."

[SophiaPrincess]

MyWay at UMHB will no longer accept these non-degree credits including credits from providers such as StraighterLine, Sophia Learning, and Study.com as they are not recognized by CHEA accreditation as transfer credits, effective March 1, 2022. 

Update: UMHB might have opened the door part way to alt-credit since. The Transfer of Credit page in the 2023-2024 MyWay catalog states "Students may transfer in 30% or less of total program credit hours from non-degree awarding college course providers."

I applied to UMHB in October ignorant of the fact they no longer accepted Sophia. CHEA approval doesn't matter. Sophia is accredited by the DEAC which has CHEA appoval.
https://www.chea.org/distance-education-...commission

[bjcheung77]

Most if not all ACE providers such as Sophia.org and Study.com actually aren't DEAC accredited as they're not an institution, they're a course provider that has the DEAC AQC which is just a quality check, it's like being on COSC and TESU's approved provider lists, they've gone through 'registering' for these type of quality checks in addition to just ACE recommendation for credit. An example of an institution that has DEAC accreditation and NCCRS recommendation for credit is Genesis University, thus these credits can be transferred to Excelsior, TESU and others such as UMPI, WGU that take NA or NCCRS credits.

[SophiaPrincess]

Most if not all ACE providers such as Sophia.org and Study.com actually aren't DEAC accredited as they're not an institution, they're a course provider that has the DEAC AQC which is just a quality check, it's like being on COSC and TESU's approved provider lists, they've gone through 'registering' for these type of quality checks in addition to just ACE recommendation for credit.  An example of an institution that has DEAC accreditation and NCCRS recommendation for credit is Genesis University, thus these credits can be transferred to Excelsior, TESU and others such as UMPI, WGU that take NA or NCCRS credits.

Thank you for correcting me BJ. I have been misrepresenting Sophia as accredited by DEAC. I feel so foolish. I had hoped you were mistaken and checked with DEAC's website. They are NOT listed under accredited institutions but are listed as you described at https://www.deac.org/AQC/Approved-Providers.aspx#sophia .  I wondered why Sophia even mentioned ACE if they were DEAC accredited. Now I know why their ACE status is so important.

[jch]

Unfortunately there are a quite a few organizations that proudly post the logo of an accreditor on their website but are NOT actually accredited. Instead they're a member in some kind of program or have other affiliation which gives them a basis for doing so. It confuses a lot of people and demonstrates why you always need to verify accreditation. I wish that the accreditors would put a stop to this mess.

[rachel83az]

Most if not all ACE providers such as Sophia.org and Study.com actually aren't DEAC accredited as they're not an institution, they're a course provider that has the DEAC AQC which is just a quality check, it's like being on COSC and TESU's approved provider lists, they've gone through 'registering' for these type of quality checks in addition to just ACE recommendation for credit.  An example of an institution that has DEAC accreditation and NCCRS recommendation for credit is Genesis University, thus these credits can be transferred to Excelsior, TESU and others such as UMPI, WGU that take NA or NCCRS credits.

Thank you for correcting me BJ. I have been misrepresenting Sophia as accredited by DEAC. I feel so foolish. I had hoped you were mistaken and checked with DEAC's website. They are NOT listed under accredited institutions but are listed as you described at https://www.deac.org/AQC/Approved-Providers.aspx#sophia .  I wondered why Sophia even mentioned ACE if they were DEAC accredited. Now I know why their ACE status is so important.

FYI, if they were DEAC accredited and not ACE-recommended, TESU wouldn't accept them. TESU doesn't accept NA credits. There is/was a similar situation with Penn Foster. They're NA-accredited, but TESU has only historically accepted their credits because of ACE-recommendation. Penn Foster seems to be dropping its ACE courses and leaning into its status as an NA degree provider, so future students won't be able to use Penn Foster credits at TESU any longer.