(San Francisco, California) New College, a liberal honeypot of higher education in the nation's most liberal city, has lost its accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
The association said accreditation would be terminated in 30 days because of problems that included financial questions; irregularities in admissions, enrollment and awarding of credit and grades; and poor documentation of student records and financial aid.New College's 400 students are angry and confused, not knowing whether the school will be reinstated or closed. Also, the value of students' education acquired thus far is questionable.
"New College's failure to meet so many basic tenets of accreditation requires that accreditation be terminated," Ralph Wolff, a top association executive, wrote Tuesday in notifying the school.
"WASC can no longer validate to the public and the community of higher education that New College is a financially sustainable institution and has a basic infrastructure of academic, operational, financial and governance systems, structures and policies."
Such a revocation is rare, but with the issues of integrity involved, the association believed it had to act, Wolff said Wednesday.
Frankly, I'm not surprised. Some while ago, New College was in the news regarding a degree program in "activism" taught by an "ecofeminist witch" and a "tree-sitting environmentalist." I immediately questioned the school's merit as an institution of higher education. Distilled, activism is simply making noise, putting flies in ointments and opening cans of worms. Sure, some people want to do it but I honestly don't think it takes four years of college to learn.
Companion post at EdWatch.
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