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#REDIRECT [[Axact]]
[[Category:Axact]]
'''Western Advanced Central University''', also known as '''Western Central College''' and '''WACU''', is a for-profit online university offering degrees based largely on [[dissertation]]s and life-experience as well as [[distance education]]. They are not accredited in the United States, and have come under suspicion of violating the [[False Claims Act]]. There have been no lawsuits entered against the school itself, largely because they are based outside of the United States, it has been accused of enrolling unqualified students, inflating grades so they could stay enrolled, and falsified documents to attempt to obtain accreditation for certain academic programs. <ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/education/10kaplan.html?_r=1&src=twrhp&pagewanted=all Scrutiny Takes Toll on For-Profit College Company]</ref> Their website states taht they have full-fledged accreditation status recognized by the ACOHE (Accreditation Council for Online Higher Education), located in [[United Arab Emirates]], which is not recognized in the United States or [[Canada]], but may be recognized in [[Mexico]] as well as [[Pakistan]] and other Middle Eastern countries.
Due to student loan default rates, the [[U.S. Department of Education]] has criticized for-profit institutions, with the [[Secretary of Education]] asserting that "too many for-profit schools are saddling students with debt they cannot afford in exchange for degrees and certificates they cannot use."<ref>[http://www.thestreet.com/story/10875858/1/wash-posts-kaplan-introduces-class-trials.html Wash. Post's Kaplan Introduces Class Trials]</ref> Similar accusations have been made against [[Kaplan University]] and [[Westwood College]], although Kaplan settled out of court in 2008.
WACU has degree programs ranging from high school diplomas up to [[Bachelor of Education]] and [[Masters Degree]]s in business, religion and philosophy and computer science.<ref>http://www.wacuniversity.com/wacuniversity/bachelorsdegree.asp</ref> According to the school's website, students who enroll and pay for a respective program can obtain degrees based on a combination of their life experience, work history in a related field and prior educational background, usually be verifying a resume and often by reviewing dissertations and/or thesis papers.<ref>http://www.wacuniversity.com/wacuniversity/degree-programs.asp?id=1</ref> While not a [[degree mill]], WACU's criteria for their degrees is not based on classwork and admission to the school is not based on any academic criteria, although classes are available online.<ref>http://www.degreeadvice.com/blog/western-advanced-central-university/</ref>
WACU's website contains a disclaimer warning applicants about [[diploma mills]] and their "confusion" with such entities. The school goes so far as to offer the following advice for prospective students:
:''"WAC University's enrollment varies from year to year. However, on average, the total number of students enrolled is twenty to thirty thousand a year. (This number does not include the large number of applications turned down due to ineligibility.) We currently offer bachelor's, master's, doctorate, and associate Degree Programs. We are often asked if we offer any degrees based on life experience, and the answer is 'No.' We do not offer any degrees bases on life experience. We offer a distance learning program for which you can enroll. Furthermore, we have been accused of having students who do not qualify for our degree programs obtain admission. If do not qualify based on the criteria stated on our site regretfully, we cannot accept your application. WAC University is known to maintain the highest standard of academic excellence in the education world. To preserve that standard we must strictly follow our well-defined rules and admissions criteria."''<ref>http://www.wacuniversity.com/wacuniversity/faq.asp#f1</ref>
==See also==
[[List of unaccredited institutions of higher education]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Private universities]]
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