California Miramar University

Not to be confused with San Diego Miramar College.
"Pacific Western University" redirects here. For the school in Hawaii, see Pacific Western University (Hawaii).

California Miramar University

Seal of California Miramar University
Motto Scientia Potentia Est
Motto in English
 "Knowledge is Power"
Type Private
President Dawn Diskin
Dean Dr. Bijan Massrour
Location San Diego, California, US
Campus Urban
Colors Dark red, blue, gold
Website http://www.calmu.edu

California Miramar University (CMU) is a for-profit higher education institution in San Diego, that offers degree and certificate programs through distance education, a combination of on-line and classroom (hybrid) delivery and traditional classroom delivery. It is nationally accredited through Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) and Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS).

California Miramar University is approved by the United States Department of Education[1] to offer Federal Student Aid for those who qualify. California Miramar University Financial Aid[2]

California Miramar University was approved and certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) on September 17, 2012. SEVP Certified Schools SEVP and SEVIS are administrated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the principal investigative arm of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). CMU offers immigration status sponsorship for international ESL, certificate and degree program students through a student visa (I-20).

History

The California Post-Secondary Education Commission and Distance Education and Training Council and California Miramar University list CMU‍‍ '​‍s date of establishment as 2005.[3][4][5]

According to California Miramar University's website, CMU purchased the assets of Pacific Western University – California, including its State of California approval status, in late 2005. As part of the asset sale, an institutions transition plan was implemented that called for PWU (California) to relocate to San Diego and teach out all active students over 18 months.[5]

In early 2007 the conditions of the asset transition were complete and the California State Approval was officially transferred to CMU. At that time Pacific Western University (California) ceased operations. Later that year California Miramar University filed for accreditation. As part of the accreditation process the accrediting agency ruled that CMU and PWU California were separate schools that operated with separate academic standards. The accreditation agencies stipulated that graduates of Pacific Western University (California) would not be eligible to receive CMU diplomas or transcripts and that the records of the two schools should be held separate. To comply with accreditation requirements, CMU transferred copies of all PWU – California institutional and student records to Education Services, which now serves as the official custodian of records for all PWU students.[5][6]

For more information on PWU see Pacific Western University (Hawaii).

Accreditation

On June 6, 2009, California Miramar received accreditation by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC),[4] and on December 18, 2009, CMU was awarded a second accreditation from the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS).[7] Both DETC and ACICS are recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the United States Department of Education as official accrediting bodies.

Prior to 2007 CMU received approval to operate from the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education (BPPVE).[3] The BPPVE was not a recognized accreditor, nor did its approval serve as a substitute for educational accreditation. State Approval meant that the Bureau had determined and certified that each approved institution had met minimum standards as established in state law for integrity, financial stability, and educational quality. To qualify for approval, an institution had to meet standards with regard to course objectives, and content of courses; physical space; equipment and instructional materials. Other approval criteria included the education, experience and qualifications of instructors and administrators; maintenance of student records; compliance with health and safety codes; and policies for refunding unused tuition and fees. State approval was also a prerequisite in order for a private institution to become accredited.[8] California Miramar University is California State Approved by means of accreditation under the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009, section 94890.[9][10] State Approval is regulated by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. (BPPE)[11]

Recognition

On August 22, 2011, California Miramar University's MBA Program was listed as one of the top ten MBA programs in San Diego by the San Diego Business Journal, ranked by enrollment.[12][13]

Degree programs

California Miramar University offers the degree programs and certificate programs in English as a Second Language (ESL) and Hospitality Management as well as undergraduate level degrees in Public Administration and Business Administration. The Bachelor level program in Business Administration include seven separate majors. The graduate level degrees include six separate majors in the Masters of Business Administration degree program, Master of Science degree programs in Strategic Leadership,and four separate majors in the Doctor of Business Administration degree program.[14]

CalJOBS Approved Certificate Programs

The University also offers a wide range of short term Certificate programs including Cisco certifications and Microsoft certifications. These programs are approved by the State of California's Employment Development Department and are eligible for financial assistance under the Workforce Investment Act(WIA). The programs are listed at the CalJOBS website. California's Employment Development Department.

Events Prior To CMU's Purchase

In May 2004 the U.S. Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs conducted hearings to determine whether the federal government had paid for, or governmental officials possessed, degrees from unaccredited schools.[15] As part of those hearing the US Government Accountability Office presented the results of an eight-month examination and report.[16] As the basis of the report, the GAO searched the Internet for nontraditional, unaccredited post-secondary schools that offered degrees that met their search criteria. After the passage of the Homeland Security Act, Section 4107 of tile 5, U.S. Code was amended. After this act became law in 2002, the federal government could pay for the cost of academic degree training for federal employees only if the college or university providing that training was accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body. The Senate Committee official transcript references Pacific Western University in Los Angeles and Pacific Western University in Hawaii as two of the unaccredited schools the GAO found online and mentioned during the hearing. The Senate transcript states that Pacific Western University in Los Angeles was recognized as a California State Approved institution. However, as the State of Hawaii had no state approval process for a private university, the Senate transcript states that it was difficult to tell the difference in the status of the two schools.[15]

Alumni

CMU's accrediting agency ruled that CMU and PWU California were separate schools that operated with separate academic standards. PWU California alumni were determined not to be alumni of California Miramar University.[5] To see PWU alumni visit Pacific Western University (Hawaii).

Memberships

CMU is DANTES/VA DSST approved and offers several special programs for members of the United States Military, enabling members of the armed forces to continue their education through both distance, hybrid and classroom based learning, even while on active duty. In some cases, military experience and coursework may be accepted as transferable units.

CMU is also a member of the following organizations:

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.ed.gov
  2. ↑ California Miramar University Financial Aid
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 California Miramar University in Guide to California Colleges and Universities, California Post-Secondary Education Commission
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "DETC 2009–2010 Directory of Accredited Institutions". DETC. Archived from the original on March 31, 2010.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3
  6. ↑ http://www.bppe.ca.gov/transcripts/custodian_records.shtml
  7. ↑ ACICS Council Actions December 2009
  8. ↑ Private Postsecondary Educational Opportunities in California brochure. Obtained December 17, 2006.
  9. ↑ California Private Postsecondary Act of 2009
  10. ↑ BPPE List of Approved Schools
  11. ↑ BPPE Official Website
  12. ↑ "List of Top 10 MBA Programs in San Diego", San Diego Business Journal Higher Education Supplement, August 22, 2011: A16–A18
  13. ↑ Ilana Herring, California Miramar University (August 25, 2011). "California Miramar University Joins "The List" of Top 10 MBA Schools in San Diego – Published Today in the San Diego Business Journal" (press release). Yahoo! News.
  14. ↑ "California Miramar University Catalog". 2014 15. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Hearings Before The Committee on Governmental Affairs United States Senate, One Hundred Eighth Congress Second Session May 11 and 12, 2004
  16. ↑ Diploma Mills: Federal Employees Have Obtained Degrees from Diploma Mills and Other Unaccredited Schools, Some at Government Expense, United States General Accounting Office, Testimony before the Committee on Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate, May 11, 2004

External links