American City University (ACU) is a private unaccredited distance education university headquartered in Pasadena, California., American City University website, accessed February 18, 2016 The school currently offers an online MBA program.
ACU is affiliated with a corporation called International Management Association, headquartered in Hong Kong. Honolulu University is another affiliate of the International Management Association, which also formerly identified an affiliation with the American Central University, which was based in Laramie, Wyoming.American Central University, International Management Association website, archived March 19, 2007
ACU in Los Angeles was incorporated in 2008 in Huntsville, Alabama, and relocated to California in 2009.ACU History, American City University website, accessed July 5, 2012 It is licensed by the State of California but is not accredited by any recognized accreditation body.License and Recognition, American City University website, accessed April 22, 2010
History Formerly, American City University was the name of an institution that operated in Wyoming, where it was one of a dozen unaccredited offerors of higher education by distance learning that operated under a permissive state higher education law and were suspected of being diploma mills.Panel rejects 'diploma mills' bill, Casper Star-Tribune, January 1, 2005 In 2005, ACU was reported to be operating out of office space in the Tivoli Building, a Victorian building in downtown Cheyenne, Wyoming.Mead Gruver, Alleged "diploma mills" flocking to Wyoming, Associated Press story published by The Seattle Times, February 9, 2005.U.S. attorney buys historic building, Casper Star-Tribune, February 8, 2006Wyoming should be oh so proud! Diploma mill lies can be heard (read) around the world. From Wyoming. , Cheyenne Herald, February 27, 2006, page 4. ACU operated in 14 other locations worldwide, including sites in London; Limerick and Cork, Ireland; Kyiv; Macedonia; Dubai; Beirut; Athens; Sri Lanka; Taiwan; the Philippines; and Malaysia. ACU reported in 2005 that 300 students were enrolled worldwide.Ilene Olson, Officials debate private school bill, Wyoming Tribune Eagle, August 25, 2005 The school is alleged to have marketed an MBA program in Vietnam that did not deliver the promised value to the students it enrolled.Wyo-based diploma mills create ill will overseas, Casper Star-Tribune, January 8, 2007"Giao duc DH hau WTO Dung la nhung vi khach kem hieu biet" (Vietnamese) Dr. Mark Ashwill, director of the Institute of International Education in Vietnam warns about American City University MBA program. Vietbao, Nov 24, 2006. Retrieved April 23, 2010. After Wyoming enacted a law requiring higher education institutions in the state to be accredited or in the process of obtaining accreditation by July 1, 2006, several unaccredited schools closed down or left the state.Joan Barron, Online school departs, Casper Star-Tribune, June 16, 2006Dave Featherly, Warren National University (formerly Kennedy-Western University) to close , Cheyenne Herald website, February 2, 2009Megan Gruver, New law prompts online school changes, Casper Star-Tribune, March 15, 2007 ACU sought accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council. , however, the Wyoming Department of Education listed ACU as "no longer licensed or registered ... to operate as [a] private post-secondary degree granting education institution."Private School Registration General Information , Wyoming Department of Education website, List current as of 6/17/09, accessed April 22, 2010
Memberships
ACU became a member of the California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools (CAPPS) in May 2009. CAPPS is a California association representing private postsecondary schools in California. It is a professional organization, rather than an accreditation association.
Academic programs ACU offers an MBA degree (Masters in Business Administration)., American City University website, accessed February 18, 2016
See also Newport International University Preston University (United States) Rutherford University Warren National University List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning
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