Almeda University (also called Almeda College, Almeda College & University, or Almeda International University[1][2][3][4]) is an unaccredited[1][5] American institution that offers various academic degrees through distance education, including a "Life Experience Degree".
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Almeda was founded in 1997 and currently has an address in Boise, Idaho.[6] Bears' Guide says that they could not locate the physical address of the institution and were told by reception that Almeda University is a "web only" institution.[7] As of 2005, the Oregon State Office of Degree Authorization reported that Almeda had been closed by legal action in Florida but might still be operating there, had been based in Georgia for a brief time, and also was using an Idaho address.[8]
Almeda University offers associate, bachelor and master degrees using "Prior Learning Assessment" and also master and doctorate programs in business and theology that require the completion of a thesis or dissertation, according to its website. [9] Almeda University also offers some 1,000 nondegree technical and business courses and certification preparation programs by e-learning.[9]
Legally, Almeda University is a corporation registered on the Caribbean island of Nevis.[10] Almeda claims accreditation by the Council for Distance Education Accreditation, Interfaith Education Ministries (IEM) and the Association for Online Academic Excellence (AOAEX);[11] none of these are recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.[12] On its website, Almeda states that its claimed sources of accreditation are not recognized by the US Department of Education, with the result that students cannot receive US federal loans or assistance under the GI Bill and Almeda degrees may not be recognized by academia or employers.[11]
Almeda's academic standards have been criticized by a variety of education organizations. According to Bear's Guide to Earning Degrees by Distance Learning, Almeda College and University is a web-only university that offers degrees based on an assessment of a candidate's "life experience". Bear notes that Almeda states that it is accredited by the Association for Online Academic Excellence, but that that association is itself unrecognized.[7][15]
In 2004 the CBS affiliate in Albany, New York, ran a report on Almeda that featured Peter Brancato, who had filled out an application for an associate's degree degree on behalf of his dog, Wally. On the application, Brancato listed "Plays with the kids every day ... teaches them to interact better with each other ... Teaches them responsibilities like feeding the dog." Almeda granted Wally a "life experience" associate's degree in childhood development.[16] Almeda claims Brancato perjured himself by creating a false identity using a fabricated name and date of birth. They write, "He completed an application that included a background of the following: Eight-years tutoring pre-K children, curriculum design and development, teaching coping skills, and volunteer coaching."[17]
In 2006 a Naples, Florida, police officer was required to pay back a salary increase based on a degree from Almeda.[14] Two Naples police officers were also temporarily terminated after investigation showed that they received diplomas from Almeda University.[18] Both officers appealed, stating to investigators that they had talked to department administrators before submitting the degrees to verify that they qualified for the incentive program.[19] On October 28, 2006, both officers were given their jobs back, with back pay, however received 10-day suspensions and were required to take an ethics course before the end of the year.[20] In a similar incident in 2009, eight Washington state troopers who had obtained degrees from Almeda were required to relinquish the educational incentive pay they had received, but they avoided prosecution for fraud because prosecutors could not find evidence of criminal intent. [21] [22] Also in 2009, the Sacramento Bee reported that Sacramento city firefighters who had purchased degrees from diploma mills to get raises were having their raises revoked. Almeda University was listed as one of the institutions that had provided degrees.[23]
In 2011, the website U.S. News University Directory, operated by U.S. News & World Report, published an article about online education that included favorable mention of Almeda's master's degree program in psychology. Inside Higher Ed reported in June 2011 that the item was brought to its attention by the website GetEducated.com and that the U.S. News website removed the posting after being alerted that Almeda "is not recognized as a legitimate degree-granting university by the U.S. Department of Education or any mainstream accrediting agency." The 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 as a source.[24]