Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Washington Online Learning Institute

The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was delete. W.marsh 23:52, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Washington Online Learning Institute

Washington Online Learning Institute (edit|talk|history|links|watch|logs)

Non-notable "online school" with no sources cited for its specific claims of accreditation and notability, therefore failing all tests of notability. wikipediatrix 20:04, 19 November 2006 (UTC)

• Very Week Keep Pending confirmation. School's claim that it has received accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools would make it the first online school to receive such accreditation, which would satisfy the "substantial and unique program, structure, or technique that differentiates it from similar schools" criterion 4 of WP:SCHOOLS, which would justify the article's retention. However, the links available to the school on the Middle States web site (Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools candidates and Middle States Commission: Washington Online Learning Institute) show only that it is a candidate and do not yet independently confirm that the claimed accreditation has been received. All Google News searches turn up press releases repeating this claim. I will research further to confirm the claim; If definitive proof is found via a source that meets WP:RS and WP:V, I will change to keep; if not, I will switch to delete. Any additional information that anyone else can turn up will help greatly in this matter. Alansohn 03:30, 20 November 2006 (UTC) With the lates update from Middle States showing that the school is indeed accredited, and given that this is the first such online school to receive such accreditation, I feel that this school demonstrates fulfillment of the "substantial and unique program" clause in criterion 4 of WP:SCHOOL and should be retained. I have changed my vote to Keep Alansohn 20:23, 21 November 2006 (UTC)

Washington Online Learning Institue ("WOLI") is indeed accredited by the prestigious Middle States Association. This information may not appear on Middle States' website because the website has not yet been updated, and for no other reason. You may confirm the fact of accreditation by contacting Middle States Association. You may speak with the head of the organization, Hank Cram, who will confirm that WOLI is accredited by MSA. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Koplen (talk • contribs) .

• Calling somebody up is not a source, and just because there's no phone number. Any formal announcement by Middle States on their website or via a press release, or any supporting article in a publication, would go a long way to satisfying the reliable sources and verifiability requirements needed to justify this article. If the claim is true, and its supported, I think you've established notability as the first online school to receive such accreditation. P.S. Remember to put four tildes (i.e., "~~~~") after your post to insert a signature. Alansohn 06:59, 21 November 2006 (UTC)

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Henry (Hank) G. Cram, Ed.D.

Dr. Cram was appointed Executive Director of the Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools (MSCSS) in July of 2005 following a long affiliation with MSA as a member of the Strategic Planning Advisory Committee, chair of both domestic and overseas evaluation teams, and representative for the Association at various conferences.

Dr. Cram has been involved in education for over 35 years. Prior to his appointment as Executive Director, Dr. Cram served as the Director of Staff Development for the New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA). He has held a variety of teaching and administrative positions in New York and New Jersey including Superintendent of Schools for the Rancocas Valley Regional School District from 1988 to 2003. In addition, he has been a part-time lecturer at the Rutgers Graduate School of Education and an Instructor in the New Jersey Provisional Teacher Program at Rowan University.

Dr. Cram holds degrees from William Paterson University, Montclair State University, Fordham University and a doctorate in Educational Administration from Rutgers University. He has served as a consultant to school districts on a variety of topics and is the author of numerous works, including two books on change in public education and brain-based instructional practices.

Dr. Cram can be reached at hcram@css-msa.org or 215-662-5603 x5044 / Direct Dial: 267-284-5044 —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 68.193.47.226 (talk • contribs) .

• Dr. Cram seems to be an excellent candidate for a Wikipedia article. I do not doubt Dr. Cram's identity, role or integrity. But we need to see a source from Middle States or an independent entity that confirms that accreditation has been granted. A check of the Middle States web site using this link still shows WOLI listed as a candidate. Please provide documentation of granting of accreditation, not further information about Middle States or its staff. Alansohn 18:57, 21 November 2006 (UTC)

http://www.css-msa.org/search.php?MODE=VIEW(NY348): MSA has today updated its website and now shows WOLI as being a member. Please check the link.

• Delete. Right now the above link shows the school as MEMStip. I looked up some other schools that I know to be accredited and they all show as MEM. I would assume that MEMStip indicates the school is still in process? 38.100.34.2 02:08, 25 November 2006 (UTC)
• Delete As I read it, this fails even the ridiculously inclusive standard set out in WP:SCHOOL, my citation of which is not an indication that I accept its principles, but rather a gesture to show how truly non-notable this is. Eusebeus 11:51, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.