California Miramar University
Pacific Western University is an unaccredited distance learning university located in San Diego, California with branch campuses in Tokyo, Japan, Hong Kong, Taipei, Taiwan and Hanoi, Vietnam.
History
Established in 1976, PWU initially offered Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts, Master of Science, and Ph.D. degrees in a wide range of fields. These degrees were earned via a combination of Life Experience, Course Assignment, and the writing of a graduate-level thesis or dissertation.
PWU operated from Sepulveda Boulevard in the Brentwood, California suburb of Los Angeles for its first twenty years, and then moved to Westwood, California where it remained until relocating to San Diego, California in January 2006.
Accreditation Status
In 1989 California enacted the Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education Reform Act, bringing private educational institutions under greater scrutiny by giving oversight to the Council for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education (CPPVE). As a result, PWU was restructured by dropping several of its degree programs, and subsequently received approval by the Bureau of Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education (BPPVE) [1], an academic unit of the California Department of Consumer Protection, which is not part of the California Department of Education. The BPPVE provides a form of quality control similar but not equivalent to that of the recognized accrediting agencies. PWU's website explains that licensing by the BPPVE "indicates that the institution is compliance with minimum state standards," but "does not imply any endorsement or recommendation by the state or the bureau" [2].
Pacific Western University has been criticised as a diploma mill by many, including members of the U.S. Government. In a 2004 Government Accounting Office Special Investigations Report on Diploma Mills and Other Unaccredited Schools[3], PWU was cited.
For example, fees for degrees for domestic students at Pacific Western University are as follows: Bachelor of Science ($2,295); Master’s Degree in Business Administration ($2,395); and PhD ($2,595). School representatives emphasized to our undercover investigator that they are not in the business of providing, and do not permit students to enroll for individual courses or training. Instead, the schools market and require payment for degrees on a flat-fee basis.
It has also been noticed as far away as Australia[4];
University of Sydney law dean Ron McCallum said he had never heard of the two universities, but said doctorates issued by degree mills "are not worth the paper they are written on". [...] Sydney executive headhunter Peter Salt, of Salt & Shein, said anyone seeking a job on the basis of degrees from Pacific Western and Century universities "is obviously the wrong candidate".
Current Leadership
The current university president is Ronald L. Detrick, who began his presidency in February 2006[5]. Dr. Detrick holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology, a Master of Education, and a Doctorate of Education[6], and has served as the Chief Academic Officer for California Coast University, an accredited school [7], and as an adjunct professor for a number of other universities. He is professionally affiliated with the Greater San Diego Industry/Educational Council and the Association for Career and Technical Education, and has worked in business as CEO and CFO of several corporations[8].
According to a press release from the school, Dr. Detrick, along with other educators who came to Pacific Western with him, are working with Learning House Inc to create a new curriculum that includes more online learning, and plan to introduce several other degree programs [9]. Dr. Detrick is leading the university as it applies for initial accreditation by the nationally recognized DETC Accrediting Commission [10], the same organization that gives California Coast University its accreditation.
References
- ^ BBPPVE Listing for PWU
- ^ "Pacific Western University California State Approval". Retrieved 2006-08-19.
- ^ GAO-04-1096T, "Diploma Mills Are Easily Created and Some Have Issued Bogus Degrees to Federal Employees at Government Expense," September 23, 2004
- ^ Einfeld PhD 'is not worth the paper.' The Australian, August 19th, 2006.
- ^ "Press Release - Program Renovation at PWU". Retrieved 2006-08-19.
- ^ "Pacific Western University Faculty". Retrieved 2006-08-19.
- ^ "Recognition of University's Degrees". Retrieved 2006-08-19.
- ^ "California Coast University 2004-2005 Catalog" (PDF). Retrieved 2006-08-19.
- ^ "Press Release - Program Renovation at PWU". Retrieved 2006-08-19.
- ^ "DETC Accrediting Commission". Retrieved 2006-08-19.