Breyer State University

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Breyer State University, also called Breyer State University-Alabama, is an unaccredited distance education university with an office in Birmingham, Alabama.[1] It has been described by The New Republic magazine as a diploma mill that used a "claimed official-sounding accreditation to attract hundreds of people to obtain degrees".[2] Breyer State University disputes this categorization.[3][4][5]

Contents

[edit] Operations

Breyer State claims more than 120 contracted faculty.[6] It offers bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and associate's degree programs in diverse fields, including business, psychology and various counseling specialties, education, law, and health care fields.[7]

Breyer State University has claimed on a website it is "affiliated" with Saint Regis University.[8][9] It was described in 2003 as a "conjoined twin" of James Monroe University.[10][11]

Breyer State's president, Dominick L. Flarey, [12] is also president of James Monroe University.[13] It originally incorporated in Kamiah, Idaho in 2001, but later incorporated in Alabama in 2004, as Breyer State University-Alabama.

[edit] Accreditation status

Breyer State is not accredited by any accreditation institution recognized by the United States Department of Education,[14][15] nor is it a state institution.[16] It is on the list of "Institutions Whose Degrees are Illegal to Use in Texas".[17] It is also on the lists of unaccredited institutions maintained by Oregon,[18] Maine,[19] and Michigan.[20]

On its website, Breyer states instead that it is accredited by Central States Consortium of Colleges & Schools (CSCCS),1 a subsidiary organization of the American Institute of Health Care Professionals (AIHCP).[21] CSCCS lists Breyer president Dominick L. Flarey as Executive Director.[22] Breyer is licensed by the Department of Postsecondary Education of the State of Alabama. According to the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education website, a license permits institutions "to operate in the State of Alabama AND IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH ACCREDITATION" (capitalization in original).[23]

[edit] See also

[edit] Footnotes

Note 1: (not to be confused with the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, a recognized regional accreditor)[14]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Breyer State University official web page
  2. ^ Clay Risen, "Degree Burns", The New Republic, January 23, 2006, p. 13.
  3. ^ Accreditation from Breyer State website
  4. ^ Adam Jones. "State’s diploma mills draw academic ire", Tuscaloosa News, February 11, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-02-08. 
  5. ^ Diploma: Expert wants oversight change. The Montgomery Advertiser, February 12, 2007, B-4.
  6. ^ Breyer State University Faculty, Breyer State website faculty page (accessed September 16, 2007)
  7. ^ Online Degrees, Breyer State website (accessed September 16, 2007)
  8. ^ Information on Affiliation of Breyer State University (2008-02-08). Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
  9. ^ Frequently Asked Questions and Responses. Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
  10. ^ "Degree mills take root in Spokane:Internet companies sell fake diplomas -- and it's all legal", Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 2, 2003. Retrieved on 2008-02-08. 
  11. ^ Bill Morlin. "Spokane a 'hot spot' for dubious degrees:Experts say schools offer diplomas of questionable worth for a few hundred dollars and little effort", November 30, 2003. Retrieved on 2008-02-08. 
  12. ^ Dominick L. Flarey, Ph.D., DCH, MBA,RN,CS,CNAA,FACHE (official Resume from Breyer State website). Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
  13. ^ Dominick L. Flarey, PhD, DCH, MBA,RN,CS,CNAA,FACHE (official resume from James Monroe website). Retrieved on 2008-02-08.
  14. ^ a b Breyer State website
  15. ^ The Office of Degree Authorization of the State of Oregon lists Breyer State University as one of the "unaccredited degree suppliers" whose degrees do not meet the state's requirements for use as credentials. The State of Michigan lists Breyer as unaccredited.
  16. ^ Unaccredited colleges, Oregon Office of Degree Authorization (accessed February 7, 2008).
  17. ^ Institutions Whose Degrees are Illegal to Use in Texas (accessed February 9, 2008).
  18. ^ Unaccredited colleges, Oregon Office of Degree Authorization (accessed February 7, 2008).
  19. ^ Unaccredited Post-Secondary Educational Institutions (accessed February 9, 2008).
  20. ^ COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES NOT ACCREDITED BY CHEA, which "will not be accepted by the Civil Service Commission as satisfying any educational requirements indicated on job specifications" (accessed February 9, 2008).
  21. ^ American Institute of Health Care Professionals
  22. ^ American Institute of Health Care Professionals Board
  23. ^ Alabama College System, state government website listing private schools

[edit] External links