Commonweath Open University

What????? November 30, 2008 at 8:08 p.m.

I was reviewing the list of schools at this website and was more than stunned to find this school listed. I understand that there are some questionable schools on this site, but I was floored when I came across this one. The Michigan Civil Service Commission puts out a very comprehensive list of "Colleges and Universities not Accredited by CHEA". There are close to 1,000 schools (by my estimation) listed. One of them is this university (Commonwealth Open University). I am also almost certain that I have seen this school listed as an unaccreditied university at the Oregon Office of Degree Authorization. So my question is "What is this school doing on this list?"

What???? (continued) December 30, 2008 at 9:02 p.m.

Here is my question: Why is this university listed as an unaccreditied school by degree authorization offices in several states in the USA such as Oregon? It is also not recognized by CHEA. I am very familiar with the European approach to education having attend the University of Frankfurt in Germany. I also know that the University of Frankfurt is not listed as an unacrreditied university or degree mill.
Although I understand what you are trying to say, I still don't have an explanation of why COU is listed as a degree mill. The University of Frankfurt is recognized by the German government and any degree earned is fully recognized here in the U.S. A second question I have is what internationally recognized accrediting agency has accredited COU?

What??? January 19, 2009 at 7:03 p.m.

Thomas;
Please refer to three web pages:
1. Oregon Office of Degree Authorization
2. Michigan Civil Service Commission
3. CHEA (Council on Higher Education Accreditation)

All these sites have Commonwealth Open University listed as an unaccredited school. Is it a degree mill? I don't know the answer to that. However, if the above three sites have the school listed as unaccredited and therefore basically useless, why waste your time with them? To get an MBA and not put yourself into a great deal of debt, I would look into the state colleges and universities in your state. Resident tuition, although not cheap, is reasonable compared to private schools. Get a degree that will be recognized not only here in the U.S., but internationally as well. Commonwealth Open lists their tuitions somewhere in the neighborhood of $4,800 for a graduate degree I believe (please correct me if I am incorrect). A state college will probably run you about double that (or less), but it will be worth it. I can give you an example. A bulletin from one of the California State Universities states their tuition (for extended studies) to be $212 per unit. They offer several master's programs online. The cost of a 30 unit master's program would be approximately $6,360. That is an educational bargin for an accredited master's degree. If you don't have the $1,560 difference in cost, save until you have the difference. It is that important.
Well, I hope that helps a bit.....good luck!

What??? January 25, 2009 at 8:45 p.m.

Thomas;
What "anonymous" has said has some elements of truth to it. However, my understanding is that you are looking for an MBA program. Can I assume that you are in the United States? If so, then what I have said to you above is valid and what "anonymous" has said is bogus. You will probably never, ever get a job here in the U.S. in a position that requires an MBA if you get it from Commonwealth Open University. They (COU)are not regionally accredited by CHEA (or by DETC for that matter) and I believe that your chances will be slim to none for advancing your career. Do your own research. Read the blogs; contact CHEA and prospective employers. Ask them if a degree from Commonwealth Open University is valid. I believe, you will see that I am correct.

what??? January 26, 2009 at 12:41 a.m.

As I have said before, HAR/anonymous makes his point. What turns out to be bogus is getting stuck with a useless degree. I assume, Thomas, that you are looking for either a job or advancement since your desired degree is an MBA. I don't know many individuals that get an MBA "just for the hell of it". The lists I referred to are the ones by which you and your degree will be judged by your prospective employeer and any future schools you may want to attend. Now HAR/anonymous may have his feelings and opinions about "government entities that are biased" and he certainly has the right to feel and state what he wishes. I am telling you, Thomas, that important career and educational decisions cannot be made based on those opinions. As I said before, call CHEA, prospective MBA programs and companies. Speak them about the validity of the COU MBA. See what they say. Don't take my word for it. Best of luck to you Thomas.

Diploma Mill? February 4, 2009 at 10:01 p.m.

Is this school a diploma mill? I don't know for sure, but consumerfraudreporting.org has commonwealth open university on their "List of Unaccredited Schools-Beware of Scams" page. It would scare me to get invloved with this "entity". I don't care what HAR says.

what??? April 11, 2009 at 11:56 p.m.

CHEA to answer your question. If you are planning on using your "degree" from COU here in the U.S.A., I wish you luck. I do not believe that any employer that checks out COU will accept your degree. Your idea of being accredited is like "being part of a club" was amusing. I would do a bit more research if I were you concerning the acceptance of your future "degree".

Gemibook April 15, 2009 at 3:13 a.m.

Hi. Can anyone tell me about the status of MUST university. The MUST University website says the university is accredited by IAO. Is this MUST a legit university? Please answer asap. Thanks.

What??? April 17, 2009 at 9:37 p.m.

RE: Gemibook
You MUST (not go to this) University.

Curious May 10, 2009 at 9:58 p.m.

This is most curious. What was mentioned above by someone is absolutely correct - many schools, that are now accredited, were... not long ago... unaccredited.

I've been following this for a lot of years now and have watched this process. If Nachalous thinks that just having the degree MBA or whatever... is all an employer looks at when they hire, he's sadly mistaken or... deliberately misleading. I'd wager that 50-80% or more, of a job seeker's chances will be covered on their interview, past work history, talent, etc. Please keep in mind that even government jobs, don’t have unions or tenure for the folks that they hire, that require an MBA. If they like you and you have the necessary qualifiers then they’ll probably give you a shot. They can, and will... fire your butt if you can’t hack it – period. But then... that's how I see it. If you think have to have the accredited degree for a job in USA, then go that route and pay the big bucks – maybe better safe than sorry for you – right? But, if you think you know your stuff, can articulate this and show it, then phooey on all of this elitist, upper echelon "I'm better than you ‘cause our club says so!" crap.

Like others have said, check it out and see how it fits for what you want to do. From what I’ve learned from my research, Great Britain basically originated distance education. They originally had two of these distance-only schools: one in London and the other in the British Virgin Islands (their commonwealth) to service this area. The one in London evolved into a conventional and distance school but COU in the V.I. has remained as conceived. So, there’s that, eh. Good luck.

Read This Carefully!!! May 15, 2009 at 12:14 a.m.

"Is this school a diploma mill? I don't know for sure, but consumerfraudreporting.org has commonwealth open university on their "List of Unaccredited Schools-Beware of Scams" page. It would scare me to get invloved with this "entity"".

So...we have a "university" that is unaccredited by CHEA, and is listed on the consumer fraud reporting website.

Now I have read about many, many universities. Some of the universities are in the U.S. and some are foreign. I would say that 99.5% of the universities I have come across over the years have not been listed on CHEA as an unaccreditied university nor have they been listed on the consumer fraud reporting website.

What does that say to you????? Please don't start in with that COU meets the needs of some individuals crap. The fact is, COU does not measure up....period. That is the one and only thing you need to know about the school. So stop making up excuses. If you really want a degree from an accredited university, then do your research and choose a school that you will be proud to list on your resume. That way you won't be spending the rest of your life defending your "degree" from a school like COU.

Remove this "university"!!! May 28, 2009 at 4:09 p.m.

I will need to ask the administrator why in the world this so-called "university" is listed on this website. It is not an accredited university. CHEA does not recognize it. Nor do the governments of Western European countries that I know of. I don't know for sure about Canada and Australia; but if I were to guess I would say it is not recognized there either.
There are one or two others like CO"u" listed on this site. I don't know if they are aware of this fact.

@ U.G. June 1, 2009 at 5:32 p.m.

If your PhD is from COU it won't be recognized here (USA). End of story.

Stay On Focus! June 2, 2009 at 8:17 p.m.

I have two degrees and two state teaching credentials all from CHEA accredited schools. I also spent time studying in Europe (Germany to be exact) at a well known university (University of Frankfurt). So I am very familiar with Europe having spent many years there. When I mentioned the universities that my degrees were from, they were most impressed and knew of the schools immediately. They proceeded to tell me about colleagues they have that teach at those universities and the research they have done. Degrees from universities such as UCLA and Cornell are accepted everywhere in Europe and not a single university or employer in Europe would hesitate to recognize those degrees. I know this as a fact from my own experience. Therefore, you are completely incorrect. American Universities lead the world in research. Everyone knows this. I am surprised that you, as a supposed educator, do not.
We have lost the focus of the discussion. The focus is the uselessness of a COU degree. If you have such a degree and were able to find employment in the U.S. or Europe, please disclose where.

Stay on Focus Part III June 7, 2009 at 6:29 p.m.

As I mentioned before, I have studied at some of the very best universities in both the USA and Europe. Recently, I have asked several of my colleagues that have also studied in the US (at UCLA, UC Berkeley, NYU among others) and Europe (Cambridge and the Sorbonne) if they have every even heard of CO"u". Not a single one has. It didn't surprise me at all. Therefore, statements such as
"It is very difficult looking at equivalency of qualifications but as an employer hiring teachers for tertiary education lectureships, demonstrable ability rather than pieces of paper is what matters" is complete nonsense. The so-called "Educator" is essentially trying to say that if you have a PhD from CO"u" and are in competition with a PhD from Stanford University (in Palo Alto,CA), you may just get the position over the Stanford grad because of "demonstrated ability". I say to the so-called "Educator" not in a million years here in the USA or in Western Europe! That may fly in British V.I. (home of such "universities" as Commonwealth Open "university" and Rushmore "university"), but it won't in the first world.

@Udendeh June 27, 2009 at 3:08 a.m.

This is what Udendeh had to say on May 30, 2009:

"COU graduates are satisfied with their course curricula..."

They are the only ones that are satisfied with their course "curricula". No one else in the first world will recognize their course "curricula".

"..and when placed on a competitive examination with some graduates of the so-called elitist schools in the USA, the latter may not have any edge over those of COU."

That sound you just heard was me falling off my chair because I was laughing so hard at this ridiculous statement. It is real bulls***. This so-called "university" cannot even begin to be compared to a real university in the U.S. Any one that hasn't been smoking drugs knows that!

"Its lecturers are among the best in the world."
Says who? Bozo the clown???? Mickey Mouse???? The fact is they (CO"u")are not recognized anywhere in the first world; I am just sick and tired of listening to you try and justify your worthless "degrees" period; end of story!!!!