Accrediting Council for Independent College and Schools

[ss20ts]

Seems it's on the second floor of a two-story building, directly above a nail salon and Chinese restaurant. No signage.

Why would an online school need anything more than a small administration office?  You must realize that almost all the instructors in almost all online schools work out of their homes?  I don't even see a problem when the administration office is in someone's home.  It's 2021.

Who said it was an online school? There was a school that they accredited that was nothing more than an office and there wasn't a single student. The school was shutdown. It's in one of the articles linked above. Many of the schools they have accredited are pretty shady. One in Virginia completely changed its name and is still under investigation it sounds like. 

CSU Global has a large office building. They have a full staff. The instructors can go to the office. Some actually do work in the building - well before Covid they did. It's a legit RA school though. They don't have a single office. As in one small room for an office. 

[monchevy]

Seems it's on the second floor of a two-story building, directly above a nail salon and Chinese restaurant. No signage.

Why would an online school need anything more than a small administration office?  You must realize that almost all the instructors in almost all online schools work out of their homes?  I don't even see a problem when the administration office is in someone's home.  It's 2021.

Who said it was an online school? There was a school that they accredited that was nothing more than an office and there wasn't a single student. The school was shutdown. It's in one of the articles linked above. Many of the schools they have accredited are pretty shady. One in Virginia completely changed its name and is still under investigation it sounds like. 

CSU Global has a large office building. They have a full staff. The instructors can go to the office. Some actually do work in the building - well before Covid they did. It's a legit RA school though. They don't have a single office. As in one small room for an office. 

It's primarily vocational classroom training (they call that storefront office with no signage their "campus") moved online for COVID, with self-paced online classes that cost $600 for 2-week classes and run well into the thousands for 22-week programs. A classroom course on Computer Basics (Office, Gmail, social media, etc.) that meets 4x/16 hrs a week for 12 weeks is $6,000. IT programs cost even more.

It's an obviously predatory grab for state workforce development and VA funds. The NY DOE calls it a school, so it's a school. But after all that money, don't expect your credits to be worth the paper they're written on.

[ss20ts]

It's primarily vocational classroom training (they call that storefront office with no signage their "campus") moved online for COVID, with self-paced online classes that cost $600 for 2-week classes and run well into the thousands for 22-week programs. A classroom course on Computer Basics (Office, Gmail, social media, etc.) that meets 4x/16 hrs a week for 12 weeks is $6,000. IT programs cost even more.

It's an obviously predatory grab for state workforce development and VA funds. The NY DOE calls it a school, so it's a school. But after all that money, don't expect your credits to be worth the paper they're written on.

Gotta love those shady places who are on the government teat! I don't even know how the state allows places like this to exist. So much waste. 

[monchevy]

It's primarily vocational classroom training (they call that storefront office with no signage their "campus") moved online for COVID, with self-paced online classes that cost $600 for 2-week classes and run well into the thousands for 22-week programs. A classroom course on Computer Basics (Office, Gmail, social media, etc.) that meets 4x/16 hrs a week for 12 weeks is $6,000. IT programs cost even more.

It's an obviously predatory grab for state workforce development and VA funds. The NY DOE calls it a school, so it's a school. But after all that money, don't expect your credits to be worth the paper they're written on.

Gotta love those shady places who are on the government teat! I don't even know how the state allows places like this to exist. So much waste. 

Yeah, they send the unemployed and underemployed to places like this under the guise of providing training to help them get a job. Obviously people who can't enroll in a traditional institution for whatever reason flock to these too, paying out of pocket. And what they all get for their pains and/or money is a useless piece of paper and sketchy skills that employers won't waste time considering. It's really sad.

[ss20ts]

Yeah, they send the unemployed and underemployed to places like this under the guise of providing training to help them get a job. Obviously people who can't enroll in a traditional institution for whatever reason flock to these too, paying out of pocket. And what they all get for their pains and/or money is a useless piece of paper and sketchy skills that employers won't waste time considering. It's really sad.

The state would be better off sending them to a community college. We have a ton of them. Many of the community colleges do have remedial programs and programs on the bare basics like using Microsoft Office. Then they could at least get a certificate from a community college and possibly some college credit. It would save the state fortune! It looks much better to a hiring company that you have a certificate from New York State Community College than Bob's Basement Office Training Academy. 

[dfrecore]

Yeah, they send the unemployed and underemployed to places like this under the guise of providing training to help them get a job. Obviously people who can't enroll in a traditional institution for whatever reason flock to these too, paying out of pocket. And what they all get for their pains and/or money is a useless piece of paper and sketchy skills that employers won't waste time considering. It's really sad.

The state would be better off sending them to a community college. We have a ton of them. Many of the community colleges do have remedial programs and programs on the bare basics like using Microsoft Office. Then they could at least get a certificate from a community college and possibly some college credit. It would save the state fortune! It looks much better to a hiring company that you have a certificate from New York State Community College than Bob's Basement Office Training Academy. 

Many people don't even have the skills to do CC (like English Comp and a bunch of GE's).

But in CA, I know that a lot of people on unemployment can take advantage of Adult Ed schools instead.  They're one of two things: 1) they want to get you up to speed on Basic English, GED, Citizenship, etc; or 2) they're looking to give you skills and get you working immediately.  Jobs like CNA, Phlebotomist, Veterinary Assistant, Medical Assistant, Welding, Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Tech, etc. Skills like Computers, Quickbooks, Tying, MS Office, etc.

CC's can't be all things to all people, but cities/counties/states can certainly come up with less expensive options than colleges to help people.

[ss20ts]

Yeah, they send the unemployed and underemployed to places like this under the guise of providing training to help them get a job. Obviously people who can't enroll in a traditional institution for whatever reason flock to these too, paying out of pocket. And what they all get for their pains and/or money is a useless piece of paper and sketchy skills that employers won't waste time considering. It's really sad.

The state would be better off sending them to a community college. We have a ton of them. Many of the community colleges do have remedial programs and programs on the bare basics like using Microsoft Office. Then they could at least get a certificate from a community college and possibly some college credit. It would save the state fortune! It looks much better to a hiring company that you have a certificate from New York State Community College than Bob's Basement Office Training Academy. 

Many people don't even have the skills to do CC (like English Comp and a bunch of GE's).

But in CA, I know that a lot of people on unemployment can take advantage of Adult Ed schools instead.  They're one of two things: 1) they want to get you up to speed on Basic English, GED, Citizenship, etc; or 2) they're looking to give you skills and get you working immediately.  Jobs like CNA, Phlebotomist, Veterinary Assistant, Medical Assistant, Welding, Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Tech, etc. Skills like Computers, Quickbooks, Tying, MS Office, etc.

CC's can't be all things to all people, but cities/counties/states can certainly come up with less expensive options than colleges to help people.

Most community colleges in NY have large remedial programs. Literally, everyone who applies to a community college in NY is accepted. No matter what your skill level or abilities are. Many also have programs for completing one's GED and learning the basics of typing, MS Office, basic office work, etc. BOCES here has adult programs in addition to the high school programs featuring the vocations you listed. By taking a program in phlebotomy at a community college, you can earn a certificate or associate degree which will go much further in life than an adult ed program. Different parts of the state have different programs at our community colleges and BOCES. 

[Johann]

The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) voted on March 5th to recommend the Department of Education terminate recognition of ACICS.

Looks like the game is on - officially. It's gonna be a long one - complete with tailgate parties and lawsuits.

[Alpha]

Update - Nothing's happening
What’s going on with ACICS?- POLITICO
Agency behind college fraud scandal receives millions in federal cash (usatoday.com)

[Alpha]

ACICS swan song
Feds yank ACICS’ recognition, add strict requirements on colleges it accredited | Higher Ed Dive

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ACICS swan song
U.S. Department of Education Terminates Federal Recognition of ACICS, Enhances Federal Aid Program Participation Requirements for ACICS-accredited Colleges | U.S. Department of Education