How To Avoid Wasting Money on Online Degree Scams

By: David Dunlap

For every person hoping to achieve success and get an online education, there are many more companies and people trying to scam unsuspecting individuals. It goes without saying that these should be avoided at all cost. Of course, the best approach to avoiding online degree scams is to know your product before you buy.

Prospective online students should be on the lookout for things inside the degree offer that tout the benefits of distance learning, but provide little in the way of support for the student. A degree based on life experience alone may often not be worth the paper it is printed on. This can often be very hard for a "graduate" of diploma mills to understand, but most human resource managers would give you a blank stare if you mentioned this as a competitive qualification for employment.

A "money back guarantee" can mean nothing if the small legalese boilerplate says that only in extreme circumstances can you actually get your money back. If the work materials are out of date, poorly written, or the grading standards too harsh or unfair, to whom might you complain? The job market right now is extremely competitive. Gaining any kind of degree or credential that has questionable legitimacy can reduce your chances of being hired, promoted or recognized in your respective field.

Think about what you would do if your money was charged or your check for the "degree" cashed, and you received no diploma, certificate, or any documentation at all showing educational progress. Can you afford to sue a website or a company? Ask yourself before you enroll in any online program if there is not a more legitimate and trustworthy institution available. Why would you want to furnish identity information such as your name, address and telephone number (and IP address), credit, and social security data to strangers over the Internet anyway? Can you hire an attorney to travel to the place where the business is headquartered? Do you have a fine understanding of the legalities of suing a company that accepts money for 7-day high school equivalency courses? It’s likely they are ten steps ahead of you for any legal recourse.

Shop around and see why the "big" online schools near you don’t offer the same program, or call them and ask why. Often a look at the fine print will tell the story. Are there foreign or offshore company names, paragraph after paragraph of disclaimers, unlisted faculty, or minute clauses that state that the work being paid for is only coaching or instruction toward the goal of a degree and cannot be termed education? In order to prove you passed a course with a suspect, or possibly fraudulent, online company, could you produce screenshots of every question you answered correctly? Could you prove that these programs came from the company listed on your credit card? If you don’t receive a quality teaching experience, have you really achieved anything more than a piece of paper?

If you feel there is an online service you want to check, research the "school" or find discussion boards that tell about other student’s experiences. Do not trust testimonials from that site. Contact your state board of education or the county education offices where that school claims to be located. Ask the personnel there if they know of the school or have processed any inquiries or complaints. Keep in mind that a high school diploma obtained in another state may be legal there, but not where you live or work.

The worst thing about education scams is they injure the very people who are most deserving of help; the ones who are trying to better themselves and do what’s needed to get ahead. It is recommended that students act in their own defense first and contact local public school counseling offices or boards of education for advice first.

Looking to finally finish the degree that has been eluding you to this point? Wait no further - complete your online degree today! Get all the information needed to begin today at http://onlinedegreeservices.com

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How To Choose An Online Accredited Degree Program

By Steadman Issenburg

With the rapid proliferation of both online and off line schools that offer advanced degree programs, it is more important than ever that you choose a fully accredited school in order to get the best education possible. So let's discuss what accreditation is, how you benefit from it, and how you can use it to select the best online schools and degree programs.

First of all, there's a need to understand the accreditation process. For a school to be legitimately accredited means that it has been validated by a peer review process and found to be providing a high quality education according to accepted established educational standards. In other countries, schools are often accredited by some form of government agency. However in the US, these evaluations are made by private accrediting agencies instead, many of which are regional in nature.

So when you are comparing online degree programs, accreditation is perhaps the first and foremost issue that you want to address. For an online college or university to be accredited means that you will have all the tools at your disposal that are necessary to help you get a high quality education in the field that you are pursuing. And since the accreditation is awarded according to established educational standards, if you have to transfer from that school to another accredited school later on, all of the credits that you have earned up to that point should be able to transfer along with you without your having to repeat courses that you have already covered.

So why is accreditation so important? Simply put, there are a lot of generally worthless college degree scams commonly known as diploma mills set up to take students hard earned money and give them very little quality education in return. Even though you may get an online degree from one of these schools that are not accredited, it will most likely do you very little good when it comes time to try to get employment in that particular field as the quality of the education that you have received cannot be verified or validated.

So obviously then, it's vital to make sure that any online degree program that you consider is a fully accredited school that offers a high quality education in the field of your pursuit. But how do you make sure that is an accredited school? Perhaps the easiest and quickest way to verify accreditation for any particular school is to go to the web site for the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or CHEA. This agency is not affiliated with the government, but helps coordinate research on accreditation issues. So all you have to do is enter the name of the school that you wish to research and see if it comes up as having been accredited by a reliable accrediting agency. If a school or online degree program is found to not be accredited by a reliable agency, it's usually best to avoid it at all costs.

Hopefully the information in this article will help you understand how imported accreditation is in the education field, and how you can protect yourself by making sure that the online college or university that you choose is fully accredited and validated.

Steadman Issenburg writes on many consumer related topics including education. You can find online accredited degree programs and accredited distance learning programs and more by visiting our education website.

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Tips for Receiving Online Accredited Degrees

By: John Higginbotham

While a great many individuals dream of getting a degree, it is sometimes seemingly impossible to interrupt your career and or family life to go back to school. Many of us, of course, have jobs and find that the traditional schedules offered by community colleges and universities often make it impossible for us to juggle our schedules to attend. Or perhaps we have family members, kids more than likely, that we simply must dedicate our time to. These are the very things that are making online college courses ever so more attractive. And don't think for a second that the colleges and universities across the country aren't recognizing this and responding in kind.

A great alternative for the person who desires to attend college classes is to go the route of an online accredited degree. This is a degree from a college or university with accreditation, which means it meets the state's guidelines and is deemed to be every bit as credible as a brick-and-mortar earned degree.

The programs offered in the form of online degrees very greatly. It is advised that anyone pursuing this avenue of higher learning do their homework and learn as much as they possibly can before making their decision as to which classes to pursue. There is ample information to be had, so by all means request as much as you feel is necessary to obtain the information that you're after. We must remember that there are so many degrees offered through the online accreditation process that your choices are becoming ever more diversified. Degree levels include Associates, Bachelors, Masters and Doctorates.

The advantages to getting an online degree are virtually endless. You do not have to commute and there is no need to schedule classes and reshuffle your life around someone else's schedule. The only thing you really have to do is be on yourself to stay disciplined to get your work done.

I will again repeat what I said earlier because of its great importance. It is absolutely paramount that you make sure that the degree that you are pursuing and the classes that you are taking are indeed accredited. There's nothing worse than wasting your time and money taking classes that you will not get credit for, unless of course you are doing it for your own edification.

If you were ever considering getting a degree to improve your chances of landing a job, or getting paid more, or even to perhaps change careers completely, now is the time to do it. The future is promised to no one and now with the advantages of online accredited degrees, there really is no excuse for not pursuing these wonderful opportunities. Most of these online classes are delivered by way of computer. Don't be intimidated by this if you are not computer savvy. A simple computer and Internet connection will be more than enough to get you through. So now you know. No excuses, get out there and get it done.

John Higginbotham has been on the internet for over 6 years and has extensive knowledge on internet marketing as well as obtaining an online education. You may visit his website at http://www.degree-online.info/.

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Career Information for a Chef's Degree or Certification

If you can express your creativity through food, and if you have an exceptionally discerning palate, you might succeed in a Chef's Degree or Certification program. People who have completed this program may be qualified to enter the following career fields: cook, pastry chef, and caterer.

For some, cooking is a chore; for others, cooking is a chance to make art in the form of food. Standing on your feet for long hours in a hot kitchen is not for everyone. But, if you have the passion, you will find working as a chef a rewarding profession. In this program, you can expect to spend anywhere from fifteen to forty hours a week in the kitchen on top of other course work; in addition, you need to be prepared to work as a team that often reports to a kitchen at 6am. In this major, you will find you have to be thick-skinned to take criticism from teachers and other students. But as long as you have a passion for food and a desire to please others, you will Certification may be qualified to enter the following career fields: cook, pastry chef, and caterer.

Cook

Cooks season and prepare a wider variety of foods ranging from salads, soups, entrees, appetizers, and desserts. Working for restaurants, catering firms, schools, and offices, they specialize in providing large quantities of food to groups of people. According to a 2002 study by the U.S. Department of Labor, there were over 3 million jobs for cooks and other food workers-mostly in restaurants and other food establishments. According to that same study, jobs will be plentiful for the next 8 years, but interested applicants should be aware that competition is quite high at the more lucrative establishments. Earning a degree in culinary arts or culinary science is an effective way to increase one's job prospects. Exact earnings vary dramatically, depending on the area you work in.

Pastry chefs

Under the food preparation category, pastry chefs are professional bakers who provide desserts and breads for restaurants, supermarkets, food establishments and general pastry shops. They tend to work normal hours (except during holiday seasons), and enjoy flexibility and creativity. According to the Career Education Advisor, overall employment will increase, because of the growing number of bakeries, specialty stores, and consumer interest. According to this same study, pastry chefs' incomes are quite varied depending on region, specialty, clientele and experience. In 2000, the median salary was about $20,000. Most chefs earned between $15,000 and $25,000, with the richest earning over $30,000. Earning a degree in culinary arts or culinary science will probably place applicants in the upper income bracket.

Caterer

Catering is a fun job for those with skills in hospitality and customer service. The job allows you to often work on your own hours, and out of your own home. There are catering services you can work for, but many prefer to freelance. The sky is the limit in this job, and you may find yourself preparing for huge banquets, wedding services, and even personal dinners for two. You must be willing to deal with time crunches, picky customers, and be able to come up with back up plans in case things go wrong at the last minute.

For more Career Information for a Chef's Degree or Certification, or for related programs, visit the US Bureau of Labor, www.bls.gov, or College Board, www.collegeboard.com.

Online Graduate Schools: What You Should Look For in an Online Grad School

Would you like to pursue a postgraduate degree, but you do not have the time to attend classes at a college or university? Many graduate degrees can be obtained online these days, but you need to ask some questions before you pick a program.

So you'd like to earn a master's degree? In the past you'd often have to quit your job in order to do this, and in some circumstances even relocate to the site of the college or university where you planned to study. These days, however, there is a cheaper, simpler option - you can pursue a graduate degree online! Before you enroll in the first degree program you find, though, there are a few factors you need to consider.

Is the program accredited?

Always look for accreditation - regional accreditation is fine in some cases, but certain professional degree programs require additional certification - if you plan to sit for the bar, you'll have to make sure your law degree is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) . Likewise, a degree in library science will be much more likely to land you a job if your program has been accredited by the American Library Association (ALA).

Does the program require any resident time?

Some online programs nevertheless require a certain amount of time spent on site at the college or university - this time can range from a few days per year to a number of weeks or even months (usually during the summer). Be sure you can commit to the time and travel involved before choosing such a program.

What is the cost of the program compared to similar online programs?

Online degrees are not necessarily inexpensive, and can cost as much as the tuition were you to attend classes on site. The savings to you comes in the fact that many classes are scheduled during night and weekend hours, permitting you to keep your day job, and of course there are no commuting costs, nor do you have to relocate. This being said, the fact that you are not limited by geography as a factor may allow you to choose between a wider range of programs, some of which may be less costly than others. If you find a program which is much, much cheaper than all other similar programs, though, beware - and check carefully into the cause of the lower price. Do they save on faculty salaries by having less-qualified instructors do online teaching? Or is the program in some way subsidized by a grant, in which case the lower price might be entirely legitimate? Just do your homework - before as well as after you enroll in a graduate degree program!

The Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative

BOARDS & COMMISSIONS

Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative

May 2006

"Highly skilled teachers are the key to closing the achievement gap and leaving no child behind. The U.S. Department of Education's Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative is helping teachers strengthen their skills by increasing their opportunities to engage in frequent professional development."

— U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings

The Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative helps teachers to improve student achievement by supporting their professional development.

• Research confirms that teachers are the single most important factor in raising student achievement. Highly qualified teachers can maximize every child's potential to meet high academic standards. Good teachers are essential to closing the achievement gap and ensuring that no child is left behind.
• The Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative was created by teachers for teachers. It provides support for teachers, including convenient access to free professional development activities. It keeps teachers informed in areas of vital importance and honors teachers for their hard work and dedication.
• The Initiative reaches out to States and school districts so that teachers will have the opportunity to receive credit toward professional development requirements.
• The Initiative offers help anytime, anywhere through free online digital workshops, an e-Learning website and popular Teacher-to-Teacher workshops held in cities from coast to coast.
• The Initiative honors teachers for their hard work and dedication through the American Stars of Teaching award program.

The Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative is working and being expanded so more teachers can take advantage.

• The Initiative had helped more than 300,000 teachers learn effective strategies for raising student achievement—and is expected to reach the teachers of more than one million students this year.
• Today, all 50 states and the District of Columbia grant professional development credit for Teacher-to-Teacher participation.
• The Initiative is offering 14 free summer workshops for teachers in all content areas in cities across the country during summer 2006.
• The Initiative offers 32 online professional development courses through e-Learning.
• Teacher-to-Teacher is partnering with TechNet, a group of technology companies, to create urban teacher workshops focusing on math, science and technology.

The Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative is engaging the nation's best teachers and principals to share strategies for raising student achievement.

• Teacher Training Corps: The Corps is made up of classroom teachers and practitioners from across the country experienced in scientifically based instruction. Corps members host regional workshops and provide onsite on-site technical assistance, e-mail mentoring, webcasts and personal follow-up visits to other educators sharing the strategies that have worked in their own classrooms and schools.
• Teacher Workshops: After an overwhelmingly positive response the past two summers, Teacher-to-Teacher has expanded the number of summer workshops offered in 2006 to 14 total workshops. Sessions will feature prominent teachers and principals sharing research-based practices they have successfully applied in the classroom. Topics included research-based professional development, effective use of data, and teaching strategies to reach all students. Reading, mathematics, science, history, foreign language and the arts will be among the subjects covered.
• e-Learning: Designed for both teachers and principals, e-Learning models successful classroom teaching strategies and supports mastery of academic content, combined with classroom application, follow-up activities and an online assessment. It's simple: Access the website (www.ed.gov/teacherinitiative), enroll, complete the course, take an assessment, complete the follow-up activities, and incorporate what you learn in the classroom. Principals may use an implementation rubric developed for each session. Sessions are from the recent highly successful Teacher-to-Teacher summer and fall workshops.
• Teacher Updates: Teachers may receive electronic updates from the U.S. Department of Education by signing up at www.ed.gov/teacherinitiative. These short "e-bytes" address topics including federal policy and opportunities for teachers and provide links to classroom teaching and learning aides.
• Teacher Roundtables: The Department has hosted teacher roundtables on various topics so Department officials could listen to and interact with teachers.
• American Stars of Teaching: American Stars of Teaching honors teachers who are improving student achievement, using innovative strategies to reach students and making a difference in their lives. Candidates may be nominated by anyone—parents, principals, school officials or former students. Nearly 4,000 nominations were received this year and names of the 2006 awardees will be posted in the fall. To learn more about American Stars or to nominate a teacher, go to http://www.ed.gov/teachers/how/tools/initiative/american-stars.html.
• "Teachers Ask the Secretary": This easy-to-use interactive feature (http://www.ed.gov/teachersask) allows teachers to ask questions of the Secretary of Education and learn answers on a wide range of issues: teacher quality, professional development, state academic standards and more. The page will be regularly updated to include as many topics as possible.

Call 1(888) 814-6252 or visit www.nclb.gov for more information on No Child Left Behind.

Benefits of Online Degrees From Accredited Online Colleges & Universities

By Nancy Lambert

Little or No Commuting

Accredited online college degrees require little or no commuting, saving you time and money! Less time in your car means less gas burned and less care maintenance.

Complete Course Work at Your Convenience

Accredited online college degrees allow you to complete your course work when it is convenient for you. Just think - you can do your course work where and when you want to - whether it's during the day or in the middle of the night!

Save in Childcare Costs

Accredited online college degrees allow you to work from home, providing a tremendous savings in childcare costs!

Learning at Your Own Pace and Style

Accredited online college degrees are "learner centered". This means that you set the pace, sequencing, and style of learning according to what works best for you!

Easy Access to Learning Resources

Accredited online college degrees offer easy access to a full range of learning resources. Your Teachers, other students, and the library are only a click away!

Advanced Degrees Lead to Increased Salaries

Accredited online college degrees allow you to obtain advanced degrees that can lead to increased career salaries!

No Physical Accessibility Issues

Accredited online college degrees remove the issues surrounding building accessibility and the comfort (or should we say discomfort) of classroom chairs and heating or cooling!

Provides for Total Equality

Accredited online college degrees are great equalizers. You will work with fellow class members without regard for appearance, race, sex, ethnicity, or other common prejudices!

Broadens Your Overall Perspective

Accredited online college degrees allow you to broaden your perspective by interacting with people from other parts of the world!

Teaches Project Management Skills

Accredited online college degrees naturally help to teach you project management and distance collaboration skills. These skills will help you in your professional life by teaching you how to work on virtual teams within your own company!

Nancy Lambert is an executive for Accredited-Online-Colleges.com provides information on hundreds of degrees offered online through accredited colleges and universities. From online certificates to Associates, Bachelors, Masters and PhD degrees, Accredited-Online-Colleges.com helps students and adults discover the advantages of earning their degree online.

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The Fraud of Purchasing Online Degrees

By: Daniel Harrison

Last month I wrote a piece titled “The MBA Conundrum” which has subsequently appeared on more websites than I have the time or patience to continually check up but most of which are ironically disguises for cheap marketing operations for purchasable “Online MBA’s” using genuine articles on genuine MBA program to give the impression of authenticity.

Whether purchasing an online degree is technically fraud or just a misleading con is currently the subject of intense debate, but one thing is for certain: if it doesn’t defraud an unsuspecting employer looking to hire on the basis of academic qualification, it certainly defrauds the purchaser of the online degree.

In the midst of the current workload of my MBA program at the BI in Oslo, there has been some considerable complaint from some of my contemporaries that it is difficult to actually “learn” anything when one is being required to read and write far beyond what appears to be a rational schedule. To this criticism, the Harvard educated teacher of our Strategy class responded last week that although it seems as if there is no actual process of “learning” taking place, there is actually far more than if courses were just structured in a steady, leisurely format with plenty of time for analysis and interpretation of every assignment. “I don’t mean to be unsympathetic,” she announced to a belligerent ochlocracy, “but this is the way it ‘goes in’ best”.

As much as I am reluctant to admit it right now, sitting up at two in the morning between three unfinished assignments, there is a degree of truth to what the Professor says, and it is the same degree of truth that separates purchasing a title and actually earning.

In another class last week, an interesting discussion concerning the epistemology of Plato’s phrase “Know Thyself” came up when I mentioned that the truer interpretation of the Greek, “γνωθι σεαυτον” was probably “learning how to be oneself”. The subject came up as a result of Jim Collins’ attribution of the quote in his management bestseller “Good To Great”, which charts the development of organizations that have consistently returned successful results over a fifteen year period and have at one point made a gigantic leap without using the dubious artificial processes of stock manipulation or creative accounting.

What makes for a great degree is much the same as what makes for a great organization: the process of discovering oneself within the structure of the current climate. Purchasing an online degree is akin to bolstering the balance sheet of a company through illegal means – such as Enron, Worldcom and numerous others in the competitive market climate of the turn of the century: while there may be some fantastic short-term benefits, the consequence can only ultimately end in tears.

The confusion comes from people’s inability to distinguish between success and experience. Success is what comes out of experience, which is ultimately, what leading a full, complete existence is about, whether one ends up with an MBA, a PhD, or host of stories which make for fascinating telling. It is a sad fact that a competitive society spawns such vagrant hoaxes in the infrastructure, for, predictably enough, it is not the hoaxers who end up missing out – they usually pay penance and end up cashing in again at some point - but those who are hoaxed.

Read Daniel M. Harrison's blog at http://danielmarkharrison.blogs.com. Exciting stylish and controversial

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Recognized Accrediting Associations in US

Each association listed below is recognized by CHEA, ASPA, and/or the Secretary of Education, and the institutions it accredits may be considered legitimate components of the U.S. education system. The web sites of the associations contain lists of the accredited member institutions and programs as well as information on the policies and standards used to evaluate them. For definitions of each type of accrediting association, and descriptions of accreditation and recognition, go to Accreditation Described.

Note: Associations in these directories preceeded with an asterisk (*) are those currently recognized by the U.S. federal government under the laws regulating the student financial assistance programs for U.S. citizens. The number of federally recognized associations varies over time due to changes in regulations and how these changes affect the types of accreditation needed for institutions participating in federal assistance programs.

Regional Accrediting Associations

This directory includes the specialized commissions of each of the 6 regional accreditors that oversee the accreditation of different levels and types of institutions. Each association organizes its commissions separately, so variations exist. Please check each regional link to be sure you have located the level and type of institutional accreditation you are seeking.

All regional accrediting associations are developing and implementing policies on the accreditation of distance education. Please check each association's web site for its current policies and the providers it has accredited.

*1. Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA). Includes Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Central America, Europe, and the Middle East.

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA), Commission on Higher Education

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA), Commission on Elementary Schools

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA), Commission on Secondary Schools

*2. New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Commission on Institutions of Higher Education

New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Commission on Independent Schools

New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Commission on Public Elementary Schools

New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Commission on Public Secondary Schools

New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Commission on Technical and Career Institutions

New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Committee on American and International Schools Abroad

*3. North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). Includes Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Navajo Nation, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the international locations of accredited members.

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), Commission on Institutions of Higher Education

North Central Association, Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement

*4. Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NASC). Includes Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

Northwest Association of Accredited Schools

*5. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Latin America.

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), Commission on Colleges

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), Council on Accreditation and School Improvement

*6. Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Includes California, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Palau, Micronesia, Northern Marianas, Marshall Islands, and other Australasian locations.

Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), Senior College Commission

Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges

Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), Accrediting Commission for Schools

National Accrediting Associations

This directory lists all recognized national accrediting associations that accredit entire institutions, as well as associations that accredit both free-standing institutions and programs within accredited institutions. For associations that accredit only programs within accredited institutions, go to Professional/Specialized Accrediting Associations.

Professional Schools of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, and Programs within Accredited Institutions:

*Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM)

Postsecondary Allied Health Career Training Institutions:

*Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)

Postsecondary Schools of Fine and Performing Arts:

*National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), Commission on Accreditation

*National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), Commission on Accreditation

*National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), Commission on Accrediation

National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST), Commission on Accreditation

Professional Schools of Chiropractic, and Programs within Accredited Institutions:

*Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE), Commission on Accreditation

Postsecondary Commercial and Business Institutions:

*Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS)

Postsecondary Non-Degree Continuing Education Providers:

*Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET)

Professional Schools of Cosmetology and Related Grooming Programs, and Programs within Accredited Institutions:

*National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences (NACCAS)

Postsecondary Distance Education Providers, Degree and Non-Degree:

*Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), Accrediting Commission

Professional Funeral Service/Mortuary Science Schools, and Programs within Accredited Institutions:

*American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), Committee on Accreditation

Professional Law Schools, and Programs within Accredited Institutions:

*American Bar Association (ABA), Section on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar

Association of American Law Schools (AALS)

Postsecondary Institutions Emphasizing Traditional Liberal Arts Curricula, and Programs within Accredited Institutions:

* American Academy of Liberal Education (AALE)

Professional Schools of Medicine and Medical Programs within Accredited Institutions

*Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) of the America Medical Association (AMA) and Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)

Professional Montessori Teacher Training Schools and Programs within Accredited Institutions:

*Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE)

Professional Schools of Naturopathic Medicine and Programs within Accredited Institutions:

* Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME)

Professional Nurse-Anesthesia Training Institutions and Programs within Accredited Institutions:

American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA), Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs

Professional Licensed and Registered Nurse Training Institutions, and Programs within Accredited Institutions:

National League for Nursing (NLN) Accrediting Commission

Professional Schools of Osteopathic Medicine (Osteopathy), and Programs within Accredited Institutions:

*American Osteopathic Association (AOA), Bureau of Professional Education Policies and standards.

*American Osteopathic Association (AOA), Bureau of Professional Education List of accredited institutions.

Professional Schools of Podiatric Medicine (Podiatry), and Programs within Accredited Institutions:

*American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), Council on Podiatric Medical Education

Professional Radiologic Technology Training Schools, and Programs within Accredited Institutions:

*Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)

Secondary and Postsecondary Institutions Emphasizing Religious Training, and Theological Seminaries:

*The Association for Biblical Higher Education, Commission on Accreditation

*Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools (AARTS) (The Association does not maintain a web site, but may be contacted by telephone at 1-212-477-0950 or Fax at 1-212-533-5335.)

*Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS)

*Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), Accreditation Commission

Postsecondary Vocational/Technical Training Institutions:

*Accrediting Commission for Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT)

*Council on Occupational Education (COE)

Professional/Specialized Accrediting Associations

This directory lists recognized accrediting associations that accredit specialized programs of study offered within institutions that are themselves regionally or nationally accredited.

Certificate, Diploma, and Degree Programs in Allied Health Fields:

*Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)

Degree Programs in Architecture:

National Architecture Accrediting Board (NAAB)

Degree Programs in Business Administration:

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

Degree Programs in Clinical/Medical Laboratory Sciences, Medical Technology, and the training of Clinical/Medical Laboratory Technicians, Histotechnologists, Histologic Technicians, and Pathology Assistants:

*National Accrediting Agency for the Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)

Degree Programs in Computer Science:

Computer Science Accreditation Commission (CSAC), Computing Sciences Accreditation Board (CSAB)

Degree Programs in Building/Construction Science, Technology, and Management:

American Council for Construction Education (ACCE)

Degree Programs in Counseling and Related Fields:

Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)

Apprenticeship, Non-Degree, and Associate Degree Programs in Culinary Arts:

American Culinary Federation (ACF)

Degree Programs in Dentistry, and Degree and Non-Degree Programs in Dental Hygiene, Dental Laboratory Technology, and Dental Assisting:

*American Dental Association (ADA), Commission on Dental Accreditation

Degree Programs in Dietetics, Clinical Nutrition, and the training of Dietetic Technicians:

*American Dietetic Association, Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE)

Degree Programs in Engineering, Engineering Technology, and Engineering-Related Fields:

*Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)

Degree Programs in Family and Consumer Science (Home Economics):

American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS), Council for Accreditation

Certificate and Degree Programs in Fire Service and Fire Science:

International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC)

Degree Programs in Forestry and Forest Technology:

Society of American Foresters (SAF)

Degree Programs in Health Services/Hospital Administration:

*Accrediting Commission for Education in Health Services Administration (ACEHSA)

Degree Programs in Industrial Technology Fields:

National Association of Industrial Technology (NAIT)

Degree Programs in Interior Design:

Foundation for Interior Design Education and Research (FIDER)

Degree Programs in Journalism and Mass Communications:

*Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC)

Degree Programs in Landscape Architecture:

Landscape Architecture Accrediting Board (LAAB)

Degree Programs in Library Science (Librarianship):

American Library Association (ALA), Committee on Accreditation

Degree Programs in Marriage and Family Therapy:

*American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), Commission on Accreditation

Certificate and Degree Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology:

Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT)

Degree Programs in Nurse-Midwifery:

*American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), Division of Accreditation

Degree Programs preparing Nurse Practitioner Specialists in Women's Health:

*National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health (NPWH), Council on Accreditation

Degree and Advanced Degree Programs in Nursing, General and Specializations:

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

Degree Programs in Occupational Therapy:

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education

Degree Programs in Opticianry:

*Commission on Opticianry Accreditation (COA)

Degree Programs in Optometry:

*American Optometric Association (AOA), Council on Optometric Education

Degree Programs in Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies:

National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)/American Association for Leisure and Recreation (AALR), Council on Accreditation

Degree and Advanced Certificate Programs in Clinical Pastoral Counseling:

*Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE), Accreditation Commission

Degree Programs in Pharmacy:

*American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE)

Degree Programs in Physical Therapy:

*American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), Commission on Accreditation

Degree Programs in City, Community, Urban, and Regional Planning:

Planning Accreditation Board (PAB)

Degree Programs in Psychoanalysis:

American Board for Accreditation in Psychoanalysis (ABAP) (No web site, but can be contacted via telephone at 1-815-964-6066, via Fax at 1-815-397-7729, or email at dalrymdmin@aol.com.)

Degree Programs in Professional (Clinical, Counseling, School) and Scientific Psychology:

*American Psychological Association (APA), Committee on Accreditation

Degree Programs in Public Administration and Public Affairs:

National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation

Degree Programs in Public Health:

*Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)

Degree Programs in Rehabilitation Counseling:

Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE)

Degree Programs in Social Work:

Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)

Degree Programs in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology:

*American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), Council on Academic Accreditation

Degree Programs in Teacher Training and Education:

*National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)

Degree Programs in Veterinary Medicine:

*American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Council on Education

A Guide To Online Accredited Degrees

By: Bob Hett

While many people dream of getting some kind of degree, it is often impossible to interrupt your career to go to school. Most people have a job, and the hours and classes of a regular university or college often do not fit into their schedule. Or they have a family to support and can’t take the time to attend a university. Non-traditional students are becoming the norm instead of the exception, and many colleges and universities are recognizing this fact and responding to it by providing online instruction.

One great option for this type of person is to earn an online accredited degree. This is a degree from a college or university that has accreditation, which means it meets established criteria for each degree it offers.

The programs at these online colleges vary. It is a good idea to learn as much as you can about each one before making your decision about which one to attend. Request information and study it closely to make sure they offer the degree of your choice. For whatever kind of degree you want to earn, there is probably an online college that offers it. You can get Associates, Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, a post-graduate degree or simply a certification that is needed to get a better job. Many of these online programs offer financial aid, as well.

There are so many advantages to getting an online degree. You do not have to commute at all. You can arrange your classes to fit into your life, not the other way around. Distance learning saves you time and money by being able to do it at your convenience around your life. The flexibility is one of the greatest assets of the online degree. You also get the added benefits of meeting and interacting with other teachers and students, and having a degree usually means having a better job and an increased salary.

However, it is important to make sure that your program is accredited. It does you no good to earn a degree from a fly-by-night program that leaves you with a degree or certification that no one will recognize and is only as valuable as the paper it is printed on. Your education is the key to your future, so you need to make sure that it is a good education.

If you were every considering getting a degree to get a different or better job, now is the time to do it. Online accredited degrees are receiving a lot of attention, and before long, they will be considered similar to degrees that are earned in the traditional way. Whether you sit in a classroom or sit at your computer, the same academic standards are applied to these degree programs. Get yours!

Bob Hett offers great tips and advice regarding all aspects of online degrees. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting http://www.onlinedegreesreview.info

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_Hett

Accreditation in the United States

FINANCIAL AID FOR POSTSECONDARY STUDENTS

Accreditation in the U.S.

The United States has no Federal Ministry of Education or other centralized authority exercising single national control over postsecondary educational institutions in this country. The States assume varying degrees of control over education, but, in general, institutions of higher education are permitted to operate with considerable independence and autonomy. As a consequence, American educational institutions can vary widely in the character and quality of their programs.

In order to insure a basic level of quality, the practice of accreditation arose in the United States as a means of conducting non-governmental, peer evaluation of educational institutions and programs. Private educational associations of regional or national scope have adopted criteria reflecting the qualities of a sound educational program and have developed procedures for evaluating institutions or programs to determine whether or not they are operating at basic levels of quality.

Some Functions of Accreditation

1. Verifying that an institution or program meets established standards;
2. Assisting prospective students in identifying acceptable institutions;
3. Assisting institutions in determining the acceptability of transfer credits;
4. Helping to identify institutions and programs for the investment of public and private funds;
5. Protecting an institution against harmful internal and external pressure;
6. Creating goals for self-improvement of weaker programs and stimulating a general raising of standards among educational institutions;
7. Involving the faculty and staff comprehensively in institutional evaluation and planning;
8. Establishing criteria for professional certification and licensure and for upgrading courses offering such preparation; and
9. Providing one of several considerations used as a basis for determining eligibility for Federal assistance.

The Accrediting Procedure

1. Standards: The accrediting agency, in collaboration with educational institutions, establishes standards.
2. Self-study: The institution or program seeking accreditation prepares an in-depth self-evaluation study that measures its performance against the standards established by the accrediting agency.
3. On-site Evaluation: A team selected by the accrediting agency visits the institution or program to determine first-hand if the applicant meets the established standards.
4. Publication: Upon being satisfied that the applicant meets its standards, the accrediting agency grants accreditation or preaccreditation status and lists the institution or program in an official publication with other similarly accredited or preaccredited institutions or programs.
5. Monitoring: The accrediting agency monitors each accredited institution or program throughout the period of accreditation granted to verify that it continues to meet the agency's standards.
6. Reevaluation: The accrediting agency periodically reevaluates each institution or program that it lists to ascertain whether continuation of its accredited or preaccredited status is warranted.

Types of Accreditation

There are two basic types of educational accreditation, one identified as "institutional" and one referred to as "specialized" or "programmatic."

Institutional accreditation normally applies to an entire institution, indicating that each of an institution's parts is contributing to the achievement of the institution's objectives, although not necessarily all at the same level of quality. The various commissions of the regional accrediting associations, for example, perform institutional accreditation, as do many national accrediting agencies.

Specialized or programmatic accreditation normally applies to programs, departments, or schools that are parts of an institution. The accredited unit may be as large as a college or school within a university or as small as a curriculum within a discipline. Most of the specialized or programmatic accrediting agencies review units within an institution of higher education that is accredited by one of the regional accrediting commissions. However, certain accrediting agencies also accredit professional schools and other specialized or vocational institutions of higher education that are free-standing in their operations. Thus, a "specialized " or "programmatic " accrediting agency may also function in the capacity of an "institutional " accrediting agency. In addition, a number of specialized accrediting agencies accredit educational programs within non-educational settings, such as hospitals.

Accreditation does not provide automatic acceptance by an institution of credit earned at another institution, nor does it give assurance of acceptance of graduates by employers. Acceptance of students or graduates is always the prerogative of the receiving institution or employer. For these reasons, besides ascertaining the accredited status of a school or program, students should take additional measures to determine, prior to enrollment, whether or not their educational goals will be met through attendance at a particular institution. These measures should include inquiries to institutions to which transfer might be desired or to prospective employers and, if possible, personal inspection of the institution at which enrollment is contemplated.

Non-governmental Coordinating Agency

For more than 50 years, there has been some type of nongovernmental coordinating agency for accreditation. This body, whatever its form, has existed primarily for the purpose of coordinating and improving the practice of accreditation. For example, the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (COPA), which was established in 1974 and existed until December 1993, served as a nongovernmental organization whose purpose was to foster and facilitate the role of accrediting agencies in promoting and ensuring the quality and diversity of American postsecondary education. Through its Committee on Recognition, COPA recognized, coordinated, and periodically reviewed the work of its member accrediting agencies and the appropriateness of existing or proposed accrediting agencies and their activities, through its granting of recognition and performance of other related functions. COPA itself was created through the merger of two organizations: the National Commission on Accreditation, founded in 1949 as the first national organization to develop criteria and recognize accrediting agencies; and the Federation of Regional Accrediting Commission of Higher Education.

After COPA voted to dissolve in December 1993, a new entity, the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation (CORPA) was established in January 1994 to continue the recognition of accrediting agencies previously carried out by COPA until such time as a new national organization for accreditation could be established. CORPA was dissolved in April 1997 after the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) was created. CHEA is currently the entity that carries out a recognition function in the private, nongovernmental sector. Information about CHEA may be found on the agency's website, www.chea.org.

Source: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/accreditation_pg2.html#U.S.

Accredited Online Universities – Getting Good Grades

Taking distance education courses requires more motivation and self discipline than traditional college classes. Being able to work at your own pace can result in you falling behind on your work, if you’re not self directed. Organization is the most important factor for success in online studies. Always choose an organization that is offering Accredited Degrees and avoid the organization that are offering cheap and fake degrees.

Attend the orientation and any study sessions offered by the university, if at all possible. Instructors offer valuable information in these sessions. Utilize on campus resources such as the college library and computer lab. Many schools offer online resources, such as online libraries and tutoring for distance learning students. Take advantage of all resources your school has to offer to get the most out of your education.

Create a schedule with regular times for studying and stick to your schedule. If you are taking more than one class, get a large calendar. Listing all exam and assignment due dates on this calendar makes a great visual aid to help with time management. You can schedule how much time you will spend on each class based on this information. If you have a large paper due this week in one class and an exam next week in another, you can schedule your study time accordingly.

Jump right in and get started on the material. Many successful students get the books early and read the first few chapters before the class starts. If you can get a copy of the class syllabus early, do the first week’s work before the class starts. You will be a week ahead of the game when class starts. Try to stay at least a week ahead, whenever possible. Being ahead gives you flexibility if something comes up during the semester to take you away from your work for a few days. If you can’t get the syllabus, read a few chapters to familiarize yourself with the material.

Interact often with your instructor to get the most from the course. You can request that the instructor look at your schedule and give you feedback on your progress in the class. Schedule time to participate in online discussions or group projects your program offers. Some instructors require you to post replies on a message board as part of the course. You will be given points for this participation.

As you work your way through the course, follow the syllabus and study guide carefully. Complete all reading assignments and take complete notes on the material you read. Read each chapter when it is assigned. Don’t skip the reading and try to catch up before the exam. Reading six chapters two days before the test will result in a lower grade. The same goes for studying. Don’t try to study the night before an exam. Study and read a little bit each day for the best retention.

To do well in distance education courses, you must complete all assignments on time. If you have a hectic schedule, try to complete all papers and assignments early. You won’t have to worry about something coming up the night before an assignment is due. Working late or having a sick child can throw you off schedule and cause your assignments to be late. Some instructors will give partial credit for late work, while others will give no credit. No instructors give full credit for late work in college.

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