California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education

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The California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education (BPPVE) was a unit of the California Department of Consumer Affairs whose purpose was to protect students by establishing academic standards for private institutions of higher education in California. BPPVE approval or exemption was required by the State of California to ensure consumer safety from fraudulent or substandard education providers. The agency ceased operation on July 1, 2007, when the legislative authority for its creation expired.[1] A new agency, the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, took its place on January 1, 2010.

The agency was not a recognized accreditor, nor did its approval serve as a substitute for educational accreditation. State Approval did mean that the Bureau had determined and certified that each approved institution had met minimum standards as established in state law for integrity, financial stability, and educational quality.[2]

Purpose and functions

The Private Postsecondary and Vocational Reform Act of 1989[3] created the Council for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education as the overseer and regulator of private post-secondary educational institutions in the State of California, transferring this authority from a Division of the state's Department of Education.[4] A 1997 amendment to the legislation replaced the Council with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education (BPPVE).[4] The bureau "regulated approximately 1,800 schools serving an estimated 400,000 students", and administered statutory exemptions from the regulations for schools that teach religion.[5]

The BPPVE was not a

regional or national accreditation were not required to seek California state approval.[6]

The bureau accepted and acted on student complaints and oversaw a fund to reimburse

tuition money if a school closed unexpectedly.[2] It also maintained a directory of schools with information regarding operation and academics.[7]

The agency acquired a reputation for being ineffectual.[8]

Cessation of operations

Because of a

for-profit institutions while more permanent arrangements were considered by the legislature and state administration.[1][6]

During the period between the termination of BPPVE and the start of operations by the successor organization in January 2010, diploma mill operations increased in California.[10]

See also

  • Diploma mill
  • List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning
  • List of unrecognized accreditation associations of higher learning
  • List of recognized accreditation associations of higher learning
  • Oregon State Office of Degree Authorization

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Private Postsecondary Overview Archived 2010-03-11 at the Wayback Machine, California Department of Consumer Affairs, accessed June 8, 2008
  2. ^ a b c d Private Postsecondary Educational Opportunities in California (PDF), California Department of Consumer Affairs, Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education, archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-01-29, retrieved 2008-01-12
  3. ^ Private Postsecondary and Vocational Reform Act of 1989
  4. ^ a b Frank, Benjamin M. (September 26, 2005). "Initial Report of the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education Operations and Administrative Monitor" (PDF). California Department of Consumer Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 13, 2006.
  5. ^ California Department of Consumer Affairs, Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education, Directory of Institutions - Religious Exemptions, February 1, 2007; archived February 18, 2007
  6. ^ a b State-Approved and Exempt College and University Information, California Post-Secondary Education Commission (accessed June 7, 2008)
  7. ^ Directory of Institutions and Programs, BPPVE, archived May 17, 2007
  8. ^ Elizabeth Redden, California Regulatin’, Inside Higher Ed, January 29, 2007
  9. ^ Arnold Schwarzenegger, Assembly Bill 2810 (PDF), Office of the Governor, archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-04-16, retrieved 2008-01-12
  10. ^ Accredibase (March 25, 2011). "More US States Step Up To Fight Against Diploma Mills" (press release). Boston Globe website.

External links

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