Established 1997 Address San Juan, Puerto Rico Founded 1997 | Website almedauniversity.org Phone +1 206-350-9483 | |
Similar Breyer State University, Rochville University, Columbus University, Columbia Pacific University, American University of London | ||
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Almeda University (also known as Almeda College, Almeda College & University, or Almeda International University) was a non-accredited American institution that offered various academic degrees including online certificate programs, general “Life Experience Degrees”, and doctorates in religion and theology. Almeda’s only accreditation was 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.
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History
Almeda University was founded in 1997 as a distance learning program. In 2001, the school offered undergraduate degrees as well as masters and doctorate degree programs. In addition to its degree programs, Almeda University also offered a wide selection of zero-credit courses intended for professional development.
As of 2012, Almeda had only a mailing address in Boise, Idaho. 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. Richard Smith was Almeda’s founding CEO.
Programs and courses
Almeda University offered associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees using "Prior Learning Assessment" and also master's and doctorate programs in business and theology that required the completion of a thesis or dissertation. Almeda University also offered several hundred non-degree technical and business courses and certification preparation programs by e-learning.
Accreditation Status
Legally, Almeda University was a corporation registered on the Caribbean island of Nevis. Almeda was listed as an accredited member of Interfaith Education Ministries and the Association for Online Academic Excellence, and claimed accreditation by the Council for Distance Education Accreditation, however, none of these were recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. 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.
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.
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.
Incidents
In 2006 a Naples, Florida, police officer was forced to return a salary increase based on an Almeda degree. In addition, two other Naples police officers were temporarily terminated when an investigation showed that they received diplomas from Almeda. 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. In October 2006, both officers were reinstated with back pay, but both received 10-day suspensions and were required to take an ethics course.
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. Also in 2009, the Sacramento Bee reported that one or more Sacramento city firefighters had had their raises revoked after obtaining degrees from Almeda.
In 2004 a CBS affiliate in Albany, New York, reported that one of their reporters filed an Almeda application for an associate's degree on behalf of his dog, citing child care responsibilities and other requisite experience. Almeda initially granted the dog a "life experience" associate's degree in childhood development based on the false and erroneous claims. Almeda later proclaimed in public response that the reporter perjured himself by creating a false identity.