Free University, University of the People, is Now DETC Accredited!

[sanantone]

It's not really free for people in the U.S. and other wealthy countries, but the fees are still low. There is no enrollment fee, but the end-of-course exams are $100 each putting them in the same price range as CLEP, DSST, and other CBEs. However, if you can't find a CBE for a course, you might be able to transfer these credits to Excelsior on a case-by-case basis. Of course, there are other regionally accredited colleges that accept DETC credits such as Liberty University and WGU.

I give credit to Siersema on the other forum for finding this out and sharing it.
http://www.uopeople.org/groups/accreditation
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/14/educat...=education

[Yanji]

This is probably a mutual win for UoPeople (as they call themselves) and DETC. UoPeople gets accredited and DETC adds a non-profit generating a lot of buzz to its list of (largely for-profit) accredited schools.

[cookderosa]

still interesting! Good find!

[OST]

Here's a link to their catalog which has details on admissions, proctored exams, courses, etc.:
http://www.uopeople.org/files/Pdf/univer...atalog.pdf

I wouldn't complete a full degree from there since it's not regionally accredited. I will likely delay my graduation and change my TESC degree to BA in Computer Science if I figure out a way to take courses through University Of the People (since they're cheap) and transfer the credits to TESC (maybe "launder" it through WGU?).

It doesn't seem like any of the courses from University of the People can be transferred to Excelsior because they're not approved by ACE or NCCRS, but make sure you e-mail and ask them in advance if this is what you plan on doing. Their handbook says this:

College-level credit from any degree granting institution accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) that also has been approved and recommended by the American Council on Education’s College Credit Recommendation service (ACE Credit) or the National Credit Recommendation Service (National CCRS) will be applicable.

Edit: Well, it looks like you can still file an appeal and potentially have your credits accepted by Excelsior, but you must do that before enrollment.

“Excelsior College students may file an appeal to use degree-level work completed at non-regionally accredited institutions prior to their enrollment toward degree programs at Excelsior College. Such a request will prompt a faculty review of the coursework. Prospective students will be charged a nonrefundable fee for the service. Courses completed at non-regionally accredited institutions after a student has enrolled in Excelsior College will not be applied to degree requirements; thus, course approval will not be considered.”

Source and more details: http://www.excelsior.edu/studentpolicyhandbook‎

[Jonathan Whatley]

I wouldn't complete a full degree from there since it's not regionally accredited. I will likely delay my graduation and change my TESC degree to BA in Computer Science if I figure out a way to take courses through University Of the People (since they're cheap) and transfer the credits to TESC (maybe "launder" it through WGU?).

Wouldn't work. If you paid WGU tuition to enroll there and passed their assessments, TESC would consider those for transfer. With transfer credit from other colleges the Big Three, and as a rule any school, looks at the original source of the credit. "Creditwashing" or "laundering" techniques in past threads here are based on an accredited (/RA) school granting its own, fresh credit based on work from an unaccredited (/non-RA) source. WGU will consider NA credit for transfer credit, yes, but it won't grant its own, WGU-source credit. Thus TESC or any other school down the line won't treat it as WGU credit, but as UOTP credit.

There's another avenue by which Excelsior will consider granting a limited amount of transfer credit to non-RA NA credit on petition.

[sanantone]

The only way I can think of to get these credits transferred to TESC or COSC is to go the PLA route, but that could get expensive and defeat the purpose of attending UOTP in the first place.

[Saharapost]

i foresee an explosion at UoTP as students who prefer (or have no problem with NA degree) will troop in there. Even at $100 per exam,I think it is cost effective than paying 50 - 60 per month to Penn Foster or Ashworth...

[cookderosa]

Remember, TONS of people don't need an RA degree. I wouldn't let my kids get an NA degree out of the starting gate because life is long and you never know, but for an ADULT already in a career and you know the limitations of RA/NA won't touch you, this is awesome. They only offer associates or bachelors in business admin or computers - two perfect industries that don't need to deal too much with NA/RA issues.

[namwen]

It's too bad that they don't offer their degree programs in Texas. I wonder what the deal is with that?

[sanantone]

It's too bad that they don't offer their degree programs in Texas. I wonder what the deal is with that?

It might have something to do with getting state approval. Or, maybe it was just a restriction that was in place when they were unaccredited and it'll be removed soon. I don't know.