California Coast University
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California Coast University |
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| Established | 1973 |
| Type | Distance education university |
| President | Dr. Thomas Neal |
| Students | 8,000 |
| Location | Santa Ana, California, United States |
| Website | http://www.calcoast.edu |
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[edit] Overview
California Coast University (CCU) is nationally accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) and recognized by the US Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The school has been fully approved by the State of California since 1974, based on standards established in the California Education Code and regulated by the Bureau of Private Post-Secondary and Vocational Education (BPPVE).
[edit] History
The school was founded in 1973 and its facilities are located in downtown Santa Ana, California. Approximately 8,000 students are enrolled at any given time.
Since its founding in 1973, CCU has offered undergraduate and graduate programs in business, management, psychology, and education. The primary method of learning has been directed independent study using correspondence and other distance media means. Although it has become a common teaching method among universities in the U.S., this non-traditional method of study occasionally receives criticism by media and traditional academia.
[edit] Regulation and accreditation
CCU has received much official attention and scrutiny since its founding. Nevertheless, CCU has always been approved by the State of California regulated by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education. Due to a change in legislation, this bureau is now part of Consumer Affairs not Education, which makes California unique in this regard. State approval grants CCU the authority to award academic degrees up to and including the doctoral level. [1] In January 2005, CCU was awarded national accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). The school is recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) in Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Department of Education. CCU does not currently hold regional accreditation by the Western Association of Colleges and Schools or specialized professional accreditations. Prior to its accreditation, the school participated in a congressional investigation into unaccredited schools and tuition practices for federal employees. The school went on to receive national accreditation shortly afterwards. CCU discontinued new registrations into its doctoral programs in late 2004 while still allowing enrolled doctoral students to complete their degrees. CCU continues to teach out its doctoral programs in a number of scholastic subjects. This was required by DETC as policy since the limits of DETC authorization extended only to the Masters level in 2005. As of January 2007, DETC was authorized by the U.S. DOE to recognize professional doctorates such as the Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.), Doctor of Psychology (D.Psych), and Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree. In light of DETC's expanded scope, CCU has announced that it is applying to DETC in the first quarter of 2007 to re-offer professional doctorate programs.
DETC was granted an expansion of scope by the U.S. Department of Education in January 2007 which permits it to recognize schools that offer professional doctorate programs such as Doctor of Business Administration, Doctor of Psychology, and Doctor of Education. As a result, CCU is anticipated to reinstitute its doctoral programs following DETC approval.
[edit] Campus facilities
The school's facilities consist of an administration building which also houses its lending library and various faculty offices.
Due to its distance learning focus, CCU does not have a football team, basketball team, swim team, or track team or a stadium or sports arena of any kind. There is no glee club. Fraternities are noticably absent on campus. There is a lack of school housing and dormitories. Classrooms are also in short supply and difficult to find. There is no food service or cafeteria and there is no student union building. Student parking is very limited and permits are hard to obtain. In order to keep costs down students are expected to utilize their local facilities for study, testing, and research. For instance, students in Washington D.C. can use the Library of Congress as well as numerous other university and government libraries and research centers in the area.
