Almeda University

Almeda University was a non-accredited[1] web only institution that offered illegitimate degrees including online certificate programs, general "Life Experience Degrees", and doctorates in religion and theology. Almeda was accredited by the Council for Distance Education Accreditation, the Interfaith Education Ministries (IEM), and the Association for Online Academic Excellence (AOAEX), none of which were recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Almeda University is widely regarded as a diploma mill. They were owned and operated by Pakistani software company Axact.

Alameda University
Active1997–2016
ColorsCherry Red and White

History

Almeda University was founded in 1997 as a distance learning program. From 2001 to 2016, the school awarded undergraduate degrees as well as masters and doctorate degrees based upon "life experience". Degrees were issued upon payment, with life experience assessments based on the word of the applicant. In addition to its degree programs, Almeda University also offered a wide selection of zero-credit courses intended for professional development.[2][3]

As of 2012, Almeda only had a mailing address in Boise, Idaho.[4] Upon inspection, Bears' Guide says that it could not locate the physical address of the institution and was informed by reception that Almeda University was a "web only" institution.[5] Richard Smith was Almeda's founding CEO.[4]

Academics

Almeda University offered associate, bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees using "Prior Learning Assessments” which evaluated a candidate’s life experience.[6] Almeda University also offered several hundred non-degree technical and business courses and certification preparation programs by e-learning.[7]

Accreditation and recognition

Legally, Almeda University was a corporation registered on the Caribbean island of Nevis.[8] Almeda was listed as an accredited member of Interfaith Education Ministries[9] and the Association for Online Academic Excellence,[10] and claimed accreditation by the Council for Distance Education Accreditation;[11] however, none of these were recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.[12] On its website, Almeda stated that its sources of accreditation were not recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, with the result that students could not receive U.S. federal loans or assistance under the GI Bill, and that Almeda degrees might not be recognized by academia or employers in some states.[11]

  • Connecticut: In October 2001, the Connecticut Department of Higher Education ordered Almeda to cease offering degrees in Connecticut. In 2002, when an investigation showed that Almeda continued to advertise its programs in Connecticut, the Department of Higher Education sent a second cease and desist letter to Almeda and referred the issue to the Connecticut Attorney General for possible legal action.[13]
  • Florida: In 2003, the Florida Department of Education entered into an agreement with Almeda requiring the institution to cease operating in the state. While Floridians could still get a degree from the online university, Almeda warned customers that its degrees might be invalid for public employment in Florida.[14]
  • Texas: Almeda was listed on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board list of "Institutions Whose Degrees are not recognized in Texas."[15]
  • Other States: Almeda's web site indicated that its degrees also might not be valid for public employment in Illinois, Oregon, New Jersey, North Dakota, Washington and Idaho.[8] The Better Business Bureau additionally advised that residents of these states should potentially "consider the Almeda degree as a novelty item only".[4] In January 2013, the city of Fraser, Michigan, sued[16] Almeda and 99 other "John Doe" defendants alleging violations of the Michigan Authentic Credentials in Education Act. In January 2016, the Michigan Court of Appeals upheld one of these claims (barring the others due to the statute of limitations).[17][18][19]

Reception

Almeda's academic standards have been criticized by a variety of education organizations. According to Bears' Guide to Earning Degrees by Distance Learning, Almeda College and University was a web-only university offering degrees based on an assessment of a candidate's "life experience". Bear noted that Almeda stated it was accredited by the Association for Online Academic Excellence, but that association itself was also unrecognized.[5][12]

In 2011 the U.S. News University Directory, operated by U.S. News & World Report, published an article about online education that favorably mentioned Almeda's master's degree program in psychology. Inside Higher Ed reported in June 2011 that the U.S. News website had removed the posting after being alerted that Almeda "was not recognized as an accredited degree-granting university by the U.S. Department of Education or any other mainstream accrediting agency". Website editors stated their commitment to "focus on accredited colleges and universities" and blamed an "editorial oversight" for the site's use of an Almeda press release.[20] In a 2017 CBC Marketplace episode investigating diploma mills, it was discovered that several people from across Canada had purchased degrees from Almeda and then passed them off as accredited degrees.[21]

Incidents

In 2004 a CBS affiliate in Albany, New York, reported that one of their reporters filed an Almeda application for an associate degree on behalf of his dog, citing child care responsibilities and other requisite experience. Almeda initially granted the dog a "life experience" associate degree in childhood development based on the false and erroneous claims.[22] Almeda later proclaimed in public response[23] that the reporter perjured himself by creating a false identity.

In 2006 a Naples, Florida police officer was forced to return a salary increase based on an Almeda degree.[14] In addition, two other Naples police officers were temporarily terminated when an investigation showed that they received diplomas from Almeda.[24] Both officers appealed the ruling, stating they had spoken to department administrators before submitting the credentials needed to verify that they qualified for the incentive program.[25] In October 2006, both officers were reinstated with back pay, but both received 10-day suspensions and were required to take an ethics course.[26]

Similarly, in 2009, eight Washington state troopers who obtained degrees from Almeda had to relinquish educational incentive pay but avoided recrimination as prosecutors could not establish criminal intent.[27][28] Also in 2009, the Sacramento Bee reported that one or more Sacramento city firefighters have had their raises revoked after obtaining degrees from Almeda.[29]

Notable alumni
Walter Blackman, the first black Republican elected to the Arizona Legislature.

See also

References
  1. Unaccredited Post-Secondary Educational Institutions Archived June 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Maine state government
  2. "Almeda University Agrees: Degree Holders More Likely to Find Work". Indyposted. 2012-06-08. Archived from the original on 2013-05-10. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  3. "Almeda University". Netcheck.
  4. "BBB Business Review". Better Business Bueau. 2004. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  5. Bears' Guide to Earning Degrees by Distance Learning Archived January 1, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, John Bear, Maria Bear, (2003-01-01), pp.187 Ten Speed Press, 215. ISBN 1-58008-431-1
  6. "Almeda University". Almeda University. Archived from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-15.
  7. "Prospective Students". Almeda University. Archived from the original on 2011-09-03. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
  8. "Almeda Policies and Procedures". Archived from the original on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2006-10-04.
  9. "Accredited Member Schools and Universities". World Association for Online Education. 2001. Archived from the original on 24 October 2005. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  10. "Fully Accredited Members". The Association for Online Academic Excellence. 2001. Archived from the original on 11 December 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  11. "Almeda University-Certifications and accreditations". Almeda University. 2006. Archived from the original on 13 August 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-18.
  12. "Accreditation Database and Information". Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Archived from the original on 20 August 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-18.
  13. "Actions against unlicensed colleges and private occupational schools in Connecticut Fall 2001-Spring 2003" (PDF). Connecticut Department of Higher Education. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-06-28. Retrieved 2007-01-17.
  14. Simmons, Kathryn (2006-07-17). "University not recognized by state of Florida". NBC2. Archived from the original on 2007-10-26. Retrieved 2006-08-18.
  15. "Institutions Whose Degrees are Illegal to Use in Texas". Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. Retrieved 2016-09-18.
  16. "Foley & Mansfield Wins Summary Judgment for City of Fraser". Foley & Mansfield (law firm). Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  17. "MI Court of Appeals Rules on False Academic Credentials". Lusk & Albertson blog. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  18. Riordan, J. "City of Fraser v. Almeda University (majority opinion)" (PDF). Michigan Courts. Michigan Court of Appeals. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 February 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  19. Murray, P.J. "City of Fraser v. Almeda University (dissenting opinion)" (PDF). Michigan Courts. Michigan Court of Appeals. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 February 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  20. Steve Kolowich, Ranking the Online Colleges Archived March 14, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Inside Higher Ed, June 30, 2011
  21. "'All of us can be harmed': Investigation reveals hundreds of Canadians have phoney degrees". CBC News. Retrieved 2017-09-18.
  22. "Degrees for Sale". CBS6. 2004-02-19. Archived from the original on 24 August 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-18.
  23. "Perjury to prove a point". Almeda University. Archived from the original on 8 November 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-20.
  24. Kara Kenney (2006-07-17). "Police officers fired over fake degrees". NBC2. Archived from the original on 2007-03-30. Retrieved 2006-10-04.
  25. Staff (2006-10-12). "City manager hears arguments in ex-officers' firings". Naples Daily News. Retrieved 2009-03-26.
  26. Ryan Mills (2006-10-28). "Officers fired for online degrees rehired". Naples Daily News.
  27. Sharon Pian Chan, Troopers with bogus degrees won't be charged, Seattle Times. Republished by Yakima Herald, February 3, 2009
  28. Scott Gutierrez, No charges in online diploma inquiry Archived March 1, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, February 2, 2009
  29. Robert Lewis, The Public Eye: 'Diploma mill' degrees for firefighters cost city $50,000, grand jury says, Sacramento Bee, July 9, 2009. Archived by archive.org on October 19, 2009.
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