St. Clements University

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St. Clements University is an unaccredited school purportedly registered in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Contents

[edit] Non-accredited status

According to distance learning writer John Bear, St. Clements was founded in 1995. Bear discusses St. Clements with scepticism, noting that St. Clements is registered in the Turks and Caicos Islands, which do not offer school accreditation, and the school's only recognition come from the World Association of Universities and Colleges WAUC, which Bear describes as an "unrecognized and nonwonderful accrediting agency." According to Bear, St. Clements has some ties to Australia, but removed all references to its Australian administration from its literature after it came under the scrutiny of the South Australian Accreditation and Registration Council. Bear also notes that St. Clements "appears to be aggressively marketed in Sierra Leone, Zambia, Ghana, and Nigeria.[1] "World Association of Universities and Colleges member list do not have St Clements name on that>http://www.waucglobalaccreditation.org/universities.htm</ref>

After 12 years St Clements are found active in Asia, Middle Asia and Africa. The school and professional association lists on their website also shows growing recognition by respected Universities from UK, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, India and more. University also offers degrees in Arabic and Chinese language.[citation needed]

St. Clements has been identified as unaccredited by several states, including Maine[2]<ref="Maine November 2006 list"http://mainegov-images.informe.org/education/highered/Non-Accredited/UnaccreditedSchools-042706.pdf has taken name of St Clements University out after some formal action from St Clements and investigation by Maine State</ref>, Michigan [3], and Oregon[4].

St. Clements claims to be a member of the British Learning Association, a United Kingdom-based educational trade group.[1] However, the BLA is not an accrediting body, and membership in the group therefore does not confer accreditation.[2]. St Clements also claims to be a member of International Council of Distance and Open Education.[citation needed]

[edit] Australian connection

Australian Senator Kim Carr has referred to St. Clements several times in official proceedings. According to Senator Carr, St. Clements is a "degree mill" that claimed to be operating in Australia in 1999. When members of Senator Carr's staff contacted the company identified as administering St. Clements, they found that it was a joint whisky distributing company and alleged educational services company.[5] Senatator Carr subsequently referred to St. Clements as reminiscent of "the famous pirates of old . . . using legal devices and incompetence by government ministers and making a bridgehead into this country’s educational institutions"[5] and as being operated out of a "grog shop."[6]

According to a publication of the Australian Universities Quality Agency, St. Clements is an "unauthorized" provider of education in Australia, and once purported to have its main office in Adelaide, Australia, removing this claim only after contact from the South Australian Accreditation and Registration Council.[7]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Bear, John, Maria Bear (2003-01-01). Bear's Guide to Earning Degrees by Distance Learning. Ten Speed Press, 215. ISBN 1-580-08431-1.
  2. ^ Non-Accredited Colleges & Universities List: ST - SY (html). State of Maine. Retrieved on September 14, 2006. Note: Maine's list of non-accredited universities refers to St. Clements as a "degree mill."
  3. ^ Non-Accredited Schools/Universities (pdf). State of Michigan (2006-08-31). Retrieved on September 14, 2006. Note: Degrees from St. Clements or other unaccredited institutions will not be accepted by the Michigan civil service.
  4. ^ Unaccredited colleges (html). Oregon Student Assistance Commission. Retrieved on September 14, 2006.
  5. ^ a b Consideration of Offical Estimates: Supplemental Hearings (pdf) 64-66. Australian Senate (1999-05-06). Retrieved on September 14, 2006.
  6. ^ Transcript, Senate Employment, Workplace Relations, Small Business, and Educational Reference Committee (pdf) 68. Australian Senate (2001-05-15). Retrieved on September 15, 2006.
  7. ^ Brown, George (2004). [http://www.auqa.edu.au/auqf/2004/program/papers/Brown.pdf Protecting Australia’s Higher Education System A Proactive Versus Reactive Approach in Review (1999–2004)] (pdf) 5. Australian University Quality Agency. Retrieved on September 14, 2006.

[edit] Links

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