South University Online

Posts Tagged ‘South Carolina’

I am interested in South Univeristy’s MBA program but I know very little about online degree. Is an online MBA Degree as respected as MBA Degree? Is South University a respected school for MBA? If it is not, what is a good school in South Carolina (not including USC) for MBA ? Please advise. Thank you

A two year college located in Charleston , South Carolina , in United States , Trident Technical College serves Charleston , Dorchester and Berkeley in South Carolina . It is the part of South Carolina Technical College System.
Campus
Every semester around 12,000 students working for college transfer with associate degrees and technical associate degrees, diplomas and certificate come out of the college. Main campus of the college is located at 7000 Rivers Avenue , North Charleston , SC 29406 and the Palmer campus is located at 66 Columbus St. Charleston , SC 29403 . Other campuses are Berkeley Campus and St. Paul Parish Site Campus.
Programs Offered
Programs offered by TTC includes Aeronautical Studies, business technology, community family as well as child studies, visual arts, culinary arts, film media, hospitality, tourism, law, nursing, science, mathematics, and allied science. Popular degrees and majors offered include physical science, security and protective service, public administration, personal and culinary services, visual and performing arts, communication and journalism, business, management, and marketing etc. In addition, the college offers extensive health study programs.
Brief History
With the merger of Berkeley Charleston-Dorchester Technical Education Center with the Palmer College , the Trident Technical College was born in 1973. Berkeley center started with two buildings in 1964 and was expanded into the Trident College in 1973. Berkeley campus in 1982 and Palmer campus in 1986 were added. 147 acres of land was purchased during 1993-94 near downtown Charleston and complex for economic development was set up in 2005. St. Paul ‘s Parish site campus was set up in 2008.
Unique Features
Accelerated program, cross registration, double major, distance learning, dual enrollment for high school students, independent study, internship, and ESL are some of the unique options offered by the college.
Admission
Open admission policy is followed by the college. Transfer students are not ignored. However both SAT and ACT scores are important.
Student Support
Trident Technical College provides extensive disability supports along with remedial instructions, study skill assistance and tutoring and counseling in various aspects. Counseling includes adult student services, alcohol and drugs abuse, career and academic counseling and employment service. For details one can visit the college directory at the state university website.
Financial Aids
Trident Technical College offers federal, state, local, and institutional grants, scholarships, and student loans. Aids are applied using the FAFSA form. Financial assistance is readily available for students in the college, the details of which can be viewed at the state university website.

There are many South Carolina insurance companies competing for your business online now. If you are shopping for cheap insurance quotes, you generally have three choices: Online, exclusive or nonexclusive agent.

Online Cheap Insurance Quotes

Convenience and Choice Variety– online insurance shopping has the advantage of having many choices and access to these choices and quotes are fast and easy. You can take your time and really research and investigate different insurance companies which help you find the right insurance policy that fits your needs.

Saves Time– shopping for cheap insurance quotes online enables you to research insurance policies when it is convenient for you. You can access insurance information anytime, day or night from the comfort of your home.

Fast and Sometimes Instant Insurance Quotes– shopping for insurance quotes in South Carolina online provides you the opportunity to receive instant insurance quotes from several insurance companies allowing you to compare insurance rates.

Local South Carolina Exclusive Agent

Human Insurance Agent – sometimes when people shop for cheap insurance quotes online they may have questions and might not fully understand the insurance policies and could choose the an insurance plan that might not be the best suited for their needs. Using a local agent can help the customer choose the appropriate insurance policy and can answer questions and provide advice. Many online insurance sites offer qualified insurance experts if you call them directly and have questions about your online insurance quotes.

Exclusive to One Company Only – one advantage and disadvantage about a local agent is they often only represent one company. This is good because they have extensive training and knowledge about their products but they are unable to provide quotes from multiple insurance companies.

Non Exclusive Agent

Variety – nonexclusive agents work with a variety of companies and can often tailor the best cheap insurance quote and policy for you. Non exclusive agents are able to offer South Carolina cheap insurance quotes from different insurance companies.

Special Policies – non exclusive agents can help customers find specialty insurance products as well.

Online Auto Cheap Insurance Quotes

People buy so many products and services online it makes sense to shop for cheap auto insurance quotes online as well. Millions of customers buy their car insurance online and do so for many reasons.

Shopping for cheap insurance quotes in South Carolina online allows customers to shop from their home and it enables them to compare quotes and rates, research policies and even get instant quotes.

Instant Cheap Insurance Quotes – buying car insurance online is one of the most efficient ways to get quick and instant cheap insurance quotes. Many South Carolina online auto insurance companies offer instant car insurance quotes. Customers often have the opportunity to compare car insurance quotes from multiple companies which can save a lot of time.

Cheap Car Insurance Quotes – shopping for car insurance online enables the customer to quickly compare car insurance policy quotes and choose the cheapest and best policy for them. When you call or visit an auto insurance agent, often times you can feel pressured into buying auto insurance that might not be the least expensive and you could end up paying more.

Research – shopping for car insurance online gives South Carolina customers the opportunity to research and educate themselves on the various insurance companies and the types of insurance policies they offer. Customers who educate themselves on what they are shopping for are able to make better decisions and find cheap insurance in South Carolina that best suits their needs.

Life Insurance Quotes

Life insurance is great for individuals that have a family, dependents and earn the most income to support their family. Life is unpredictable and it is important to ensure your family and loved ones are taken care of financially in case anything happens to you.

When shopping for life insurance in South Carolina, searching online and using the internet’s resources are a great way to educate yourself on life insurance basics, shop and compare quotes for the best life insurance policy for you. There are three different types of life insurance policies – universal life insurance, whole life insurance and term life insurance.

Universal Life Insurance – combines life insurance with savings. Insurers are able to have the benefits of term life insurance and combine that with tax-deferred interest accumulating savings account. Sometimes you may not even have to pay premiums during the entire policy. If your money to pay the death benefit and other costs accumulates in the tax-deferred savings portion of your policy, then premiums may not be required to keep the policy in force.

Whole Life Insurance – this type of policy will cover you for your entire life. Your death benefit and premium generally remain the same. Whole life insurance also builds cash value, which could enable you to earn a return on a portion of your premiums that the insurance company invests. Your cash value is tax-deferred until you withdraw it and you are also able to borrow against that money.

Term Life Insurance – this type of life insurance is low cost and great for young healthy individuals who are healthy and may not be able to afford cash-value life insurance premiums and want to ensure their dependents are taken care of in the event of death. Your policy will cover a pre-determined “term” which is normally one, five or ten years. Your premium payment and death benefits are only during that term. After the term you will have options to continue coverage and have the opportunity to convert to a cash-value life insurance policy.

Health Insurance Quotes

There are more choices than ever to shop for cheap health insurance. Customers can jump online and quickly find hundreds of websites offering cheap medical insurance in South Carolina and obtain instant quotes.

There are a few things to take into consideration when shopping online for cheap insurance quotes:

Guaranteed Renewable Coverage that is Non-cancellable – make sure that your health insurance policy cannot be cancelled as long as you continue to pay your premiums and do not attempt insurance fraud. You do not want your insurance company to cancel your health insurance policy for becoming sick to often or for other reasons.

Ten Day Recession Period – most health insurance companies give new insurers a ten day recession period. Make sure during that time you examine your insurance policy to ensure you chose the right policy for you and your family. This way, if you are not happy with the policy then you can cancel during the ten day period and get your premium back.

Home Owners Insurance Quotes

When you are shopping for a cheap insurance quote for your home in South Carolina, it is important to research your policy and understand what you are getting with that policy. Homeowners insurance is designed to protect South Carolina home owners against certain hazards. Normally there is a deductable that will need to be met when you file a home insurance claim unless otherwise noted. Homeowner’s insurance policies are determined by the potential dangers to your home and it is important to understand what is covered in your home insurance policy.

There are easy ways to save money on homeowners insurance.

Shop around – searching of for homeowners insurance quotes online is a great way to compare policies. Some websites enable you to fill out one form and you can receive multiple homeowners insurance quotes from submitting one form.

Raise your deductibles – the higher your deductible normally means the lower your monthly premiums will be.

Keep your credit report clean – many homeowner’s insurance companies will base your insurance quote on your credit report rating. Higher credit scores could net lower home owner premiums.

Stay with the same insurance company – some insurance companies will offer their customers special discounts for being a long-term policy holder.

Use one company for all of your insurance needs – you can receive deep discounts for using the same insurance company for multiple insurance policies. For example, if you use the same company for home and auto insurance you could qualify for a discount.

Don’t smoke -  non-smokers could obtain lower premiums because a percentage of house fires are caused from cigarettes.

Install a home security system – having a home security system could qualify you for a discount on your home owner’s insurance policy. Homes with security systems are less likely to become burglarized.

Ask for discounts – be sure to ask your insurance agent if there are any discounts you could qualify for.

Review your policy annually – your home insurance needs could change over time and it is important to review your policy regularly. Sometimes you may not need as much coverage and that could cause your premiums to go down.

An H-1B temporary worker is a foreign national who is coming temporarily to the U.S. to perform a specialty occupation.  A specialty occupation is defined as “an occupation that requires (A) theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge, and (B) attainment of a bachelor’s or higher degree in the specific specialty as a minimum for entry into the occupation in the United States.” [INA214(i); 8USC 1184(i)]

For example accountants, architects, teachers (primary and secondary, excluding nursery school teachers), university professors, certain types of nurses, attorneys, physicians, designers, and engineers will all qualify as H-1B workers. The only way to make a determination whether a particular worker will qualify is through advice from an experienced immigration attorney.

The H-1B visa remains one of most versatile nonimmigrant employment visas utilized by U.S. businesses to hire foreign workers.  Here is a list of issues to keep in mind when filing an H-1B petition.

Limitation on Duration of Stay and Full-Time/Part-Time Employment

An employer may request initial employment a maximum of 3 years.  The H-1B can be extended.  Generally, the maximum amount of time that an individual can hold H-1B visa status is 6 years. However, exceptions do exist that allow an H-1B extension beyond the initial 6 years. An employer may petition for a foreign worker for either full-time or part-time employment.

Prevailing Wage

The prevailing wage element requires employers to demonstrate that the wage offered will not discriminate against US workers by offering wages that are lower than the actual wage paid similar workers. Generally prevailing wage requirement is met by offering wages as determined submitting a Prevailing Wage Request to the State Workforce or demonstrating that a union contract is in force. The H-1B laws require employers to pay the higher of the actual wage or the prevailing wage.

The Labor Condition Application (LCA)

The LCA is an application by the employer to the Department of Labor attesting to certain conditions of the position offered.  These conditions are:

·         That the higher of actual or prevailing wage will be paid;

·         That the employee is eligible for the same benefits as other similarly employed US workers;

·         That the employee is not being employed because US workers are out on strike or lockout;

·         That the employment of the foreign worker will not adversely affect the working conditions of other workers; and

·         That proper notification was given to U.S. employees or the union representative if the position is union position university’s intent to hire an H-1B non-immigrant.

The LCA must be made available for Department of Labor (DOL) and for public inspection.  The LCA may be obtained online at www.lca.doleta.gov.

Spouse or Children of an H-1B

Spouses and children of an H-1B are eligible for H-4 visas. An H-4 is either a spouse or unmarried children under 21 years old.  H-4 holders cannot work in the U.S. but are eligible to attend school either part time or full-time.  To prove the relationship to the H-1B an H-4 candidate will need to present a marriage certificate if a spouse and a birth certificate if a child. 

Ok, when do I file?

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) will accept H-1B petitions for fiscal year 2010 on April 1, 2009 for jobs starting on October 1, 2009.  It is important to file April 1, 2009 since H-1B visas are capped at 65,000 per year and the last two years the cap was met within one week.  As such, early document preparation is essential to making timely filed H-1B petitions.

I’m Ready to File … Where?

A petition is filed with either California Service Center or Vermont Service Center depending on where the temporary employment will be The California Service Center is appropriate for employment in the following states: Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, or Wyoming.

A petition is filed with the Vermont Service Center if the temporary work will be performed in: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands, or West Virginia.

When the temporary employment will be in different states, the state where your company is located will determine the Service Center for submission of the petition.  For example, if the beneficiary will work in Arizona and Texas, and your company is located in California, file your H-1B petition with the California Service Center.

Sounds Great … How Much is this Going to Set me Back?

As of the time this article is published, an employer must pay for the H-1B Form I-129 filing fee ($320), H-1B Training Fee of either $750 or $1500 depending on the size of your company, and a Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee ($500). All employers must pay these fees unless an employer qualifies for exemption from the H-1B Training Fee.

If a company currently employs 1-25 full-time equivalent employees, the H-1B Training Fee is $750.  Companies who employ more than 25 full-time equivalent employees will need to pay $1500.  The employer must pay the H-1B Training Fee upon the initial hire and the first H-1B extension of the same employee.  The H-1B Training Fee is not required for second or subsequent petitions for H-1B extension.  The Fraud Prevention and Detection fee needs to be paid when the employer initially hires the employee even if he or she is currently working as an H-1B with another employer. 

A simple way to remember this is that every employer needs to pay for the H-1B Training Fee twice for each H-1B employee and the H-1B Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee needs to be paid once for each H-1B employee. Fees are subject to change so it is important to make sure of the proper fees before filing.

Filing Procedure

Documents are filed with the USCIS service center having jurisdiction over the petitioner (see filing locations above).  The petitioner must send Form I-129, I-129 supplement forms, an approved Labor Condition Application, support document about the petitioner’s business, and documents showing the qualifications of the candidate.  If there are dependent/s then the form I-539 need to be filed along with proof of relationship to the H-1B, i.e. marriage certificate or birth certificate or both.  Only one I-539 is required to be filed as children are listed on the application.  The Form I-539 filing fee is $300. 

Everything is large in Texas, but it seems that the rest of the United States has more than its share of the world’s largest somethings. Texas itself has the world’s largest fire hydrant in Beaumont; wooden nickel in San Antonio; kettle in Galveston; horseshoe in Marfa; cowboy hat in Paris; and of course, the world’s biggest burger served at Charlie Brown’s in Carrolton.

California is another big state full of big things, like the world’s largest shoe and Pez dispenser, both in Bakersfield; chess set in Morro Bay; hammer in Eureka; fiddle in Fiddletown; artichoke in Castroville; paper cup in Riverside; and the very patriotic U.S. flag in Long Beach.

Some of the world’s largest things can be found all over the United States. Here is a short list.

- Adirondack Chair: Westminster, Maryland

- Apple Basket: Frazeysburg, Ohio

- Baked Potato: Blackfoot, Idaho

- Ball of Rubber Bands: Wilmington, Delaware

- Baseball Bat: Louisville, Kentucky

- Basketball: Knoxville, Tennessee

- Clock: Clarksville, Indiana

- Conch Shell: Panama City Beach, Florida

- Dinosaur Park: Beaver, Arkansas

- Donut: Yokumtown, Pennsylvania

- Ear of Corn: Olivia, Minnesota

- Eight-ball: Tipton, Missouri

- Globe: Yarmouth, Maine

- Golf Ball: Fripp Island, South Carolina

- Guitar: Bristol, Tennessee

- Hockey Stick: Real Eveleth, Minnesota

Not all the world’s largest things in America are just curiosities. For instance, The world’s largest wind generator has two 400-foot blades, is 20 stories high and is located on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Walmart of Bentonville, Arkansas is the world’s largest retailer. And there is lots more: The world’s largest American Legion Post is in Lincoln, Nebraska; the world’s largest carousel is in Spring Green. Wisconsin; the world’s largest flattop mountain is in Grand Mesa, Colorado; the world’s largest drive-in fast-food restaurant is the Varsity in Atlanta, Georgia; the world’s largest public library is the Harold Washington Library in Chicago, Illinois; the world’s largest commercial building is the Merchandise Mart also in Chicago; and the world’s largest brewery is Anheuser Busch in St. Louis, Missouri.

America has so many of the world’s largest that the list goes on and on. The world’s largest bookstore is a Barnes and Noble in New York City; the world’s largest vacuum chamber is 100 feet in diameter and located at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Sandusky, Ohio; the world’s largest supercomputing grid is the TeraGrid based at the University of Chicago; the world’s largest marine reserve is in Hawaii; the world’s largest honkytonk is Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth, Texas; the world’s largest casino in the Foxwoods Resort in Ledyard, Connecticut; the world’s largest McDonalds is in Vinita, Oklahoma; the world’s largest Bible is in Abilene, Texas; the world’s largest swimming pool is in Garden City, Kansas; the world’s largest guitar store is Ed Roman’s in Las Vegas, Nevada; the world’s largest hotel chain is Best Western, founded in Long Beach, California; the world’s largest department store is Macy’s in New York City; the world’s largest rose bush covers 800 square feet in Tombstone, Arizona; and the world’s largest laundromat is in Berwyn, Illinois and you still have to wait for a dryer!

North Carolina

North Carolina has an extremely user friendly tax system. For more information on North Carolina taxes, visit www.dornc.com is easy to use and complete with many different FAQ’s, and the toll-free information line (877-252-3052) has a great wealth of information for individuals looking for help with their taxes. In addition, North Carolina has steadily been increasing the number of filing options that can be carried out online. There are walk-in centers where tax-payers can go for assistance, located in many of the major cities.

North Carolina has a sales tax rate of 7%, except for Mecklenburg County, which has a rate of 7.5%, due to a higher local tax rate. Property taxes are based on varying millage rates, depending on the town, or municipality you live in. Great savings can be found here. In my “Ultimate Guide to Finding Your Best Place to Live in the Carolinas”, I compare real estate taxes for 3 different priced homes, in 90 different towns in North and South Carolina.

North Carolina has 3 brackets for income tax, starting at 6% of the first $12,750 and moving up to 7.75% of anything over $60,000. Deductions in North Carolina for state income taxes are as follows: the standard deduction is $3,000 for singles, $5,000 for a married joint return. The public pension exclusion is $4,000 per taxpayer. If you’re receiving both public and private pensions, the private pension exclusion is $2,000 per taxpayer. Social Security benefits are fully exempt. In lieu of a state sales tax on automobiles, North Carolina collects a 3% Highway Use Tax, based on the assessed value of the vehicle.

South Carolina

According to the US Bureau of the census, South Carolina has one of the lowest per capita tax rates in the country. Maybe this is why so many people appreciate the Palmetto State. One of the perks of living and raising a family in South Carolina is that parents, guardians, or students can receive partial credit on tuition fees paid to a South Carolina university, up to $850. Another favorable exclusion South Carolina tax payers enjoy is that the first $100,000 valuation of a home is exempt from paying school taxes. For more information on South Carolina taxes, visit www.sctax.org, or call 803-898-5464.

South Carolina has a sales tax rate of 5%, but local governments can approve a local tax as well. The maximum for that addition is 2%, so the maximum sales tax in South Carolina is 7%. As in North Carolina, property taxes are based on a millage rate, which varies by state and municipality. In my “Ultimate Guide to Finding Your Best Place to Live in the Carolinas”, I compare real estate taxes for 3 different prices homes, in 90 different towns in North and South Carolina. One of the perks of retiring to South Carolina is that there is a $50,000 homestead exemption on property tax for residents 65 and older.

South Carolina has 6 income tax brackets. They start at 2.5% of the first $2,280 earned, and rise to 7% of anything over $11,400. Exclusions include a public pension exclusion of $3,000 for residents under 65, and $10,000 for residents over 65. The same holds true for private pensions. South Carolina does not tax Social Security benefits.

Both states have a great quality of life, and favorable tax climates. Overall, South Carolina is cheaper than North Carolina. People interested in moving to either state should consult the sources of information listed, as well as a tax professional.

Visit www.PlacesOfValue.com for more articles on best places in North Carolina and South Carolina, relocation made easy, top retirement communities, cost of living, and designing and building your Dream Home.

To get your FREE REPORT on “Affordable Best Places In The Carolinas”, and find your Best Place to Live in the Carolinas: http: http://www.PlacesOfValue.com/page/best_places.php

The self published book, Love Letters to Jesus, was initially written as a journal of author Felicia LaGrant’s thoughts of joy and sorrow to Jesus. At first feeling strange and foolish about the exercise, she later on realized that there was a greater purpose for writing her correspondence to the Almighty.

Continuing her letter writing and developing a routine for it helped LaGrant find focus and rhythm in her task of finishing her divine assignment of expressing gratitude to God. However, as she pursued this course, she was met with opposition in the form of pressure, frustration and discouragement – all designed to make her give up writing letters to Jesus.

In pursuit of her goal of encouraging others, LaGrant eventually found herself guided toward the completion of her book. Love Letters to Jesus became the result of the compiled pieces of correspondence she had written, which she published with the book publishing company, Xlibris.

LaGrant is currently enjoying the blessings that resulted from her obedience to writer her letters of gratitude. The release of her self published book signaled the release of the encouragement that comes with her book. Her love letters have now become other people’s love letters of joy and comfort.

Love Letters to Jesus is available at the Xlibris online bookstore.

Felicia LaGrant will have a book signing engagement at Walden Book Store on December 13, 2008 from 12:00 to 6:00 pm at Jasmine Mall in Sumter, South Carolina.

About the Author
Felicia LaGrant is an African American woman who was born in Sumter, South Carolina. She has lived overseas in West, Germany, Italy, Holland, Hawaii, Austria and South Korea. LaGrant has served in the United States Army for three and an half years. While living in West Germany, she worked as a teacher’s assistant and a long-term substitute teacher. She also worked as a Youth Counselor and was the assistant to the Director of the Greenhouse Homeless and Runaway Shelter for seven years.

She studied philosophy at Prairie View University Texas; Studied Human Resources Management at Troy State, Shaw AFB, South Carolina; she received certificates in Strengthening Families and Back in Control for parents. She works with expecting women for over two years. She received many inspirations from God, work, travel, friends and people whom she has met along the way. She hopes that her audience will enjoy one of many books to come in the future.

About Xlibris
Xlibris was founded in 1997 and, as the leading publishing services provider for authors, has helped to publish more than 20,000 titles. Xlibris is based in Philadelphia, PA and provides authors with direct and personal access to quality publication in hardcover, trade paperback, custom leather-bound, and full-color formats.

For more information, please visit the book publisher‘s website, e-mail pressrelease@xlibris.com or call at 1-888-795-4247, to receive a free publishing guide.

“Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose.” was written by Gertrude Stein as part of the 1913 poem Sacred Emily, which appeared in the 1922 book, Geography and Plays. In Stein’s view, the sentence expresses the fact that simply using the name of a thing already invokes the imagery and emotions associated with it.

That certainty seems to summarize a problem we have today, “A college is a college is a college is a college” or a “University is a university is a university is a university.” There are people that believe that just because someone calls something a “college or university” it is just that.

Because of this belief and with the advent of the Internet, diploma mills have blossomed. There are diploma mills that try to look like a “rose:” excuse me, a “college” even an “accredited university,” but nothing could be further from the truth.

So, if your future plans include college or a university, finding out if the school where you plan to obtain an degree is a fully accredited institution is the first and the most vital step in the online degree process.

What is the difference as long as it is a degree?

I had a good friend who spent four years of his life earning a college degree. Turns out that even though the institution was well known, it was not accredited. Unfortunately because of having a degree that was not accredited, he was never able to get a job in his chosen field, which was teaching.

You are running a risk by not having a degree from an accredited school. An unaccredited degree is a time bomb in your resume. Today, employers are carefully scrutinizing information on job applications and they do not look favorably on diploma mills.

Keep in mind the responsibility for spotting a diploma mill lays in your lap. Here are just a few warning signs: the school’s website has no phone number, their promotional materials focus heavily on credit for life experience, the school’s name is very similar to the name of a traditional, well-known school, a degree is awarded in a few weeks or months, the school claims to be accredited by an organization that is not listed as an accreditor approved by the Department of Education, the school boasts of accreditation, i.e., (fully, nationally or worldwide accredited,) but has no legitimate accreditation agency to back up the claim. If what you have to do to earn your degree seems “too good to be true,” it is a warning sign of a diploma mill.

Why is it so important for a school to be accredited? Accreditation is an independent examination of college and university programs to confirm that the education that is provided is consistent and of the highest quality. When a college or university is awarded accreditation, it guarantees that they have been examined and that they have met the standards of excellence that have been determined by the accrediting organization. Accreditation for a college or university is maintained by continuous adherence to set criteria. The purpose of accreditation is to make sure that colleges and universities achieve certain levels of education.

When looking at a school, check out their accreditation. Some colleges state that they are accredited, but they are accredited by fake accrediting agencies. It is critical that you make sure that any college you look at seriously is accredited by one of the six regional agencies that are listed below. Be sure you look at their websites, which lists all the colleges and universities that they have accredited.

Regional accreditation is the most recognized and accepted type of accreditation in the United States. There are six geographic regions with an agency in each region that accredits college and university programs:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools – http://www.msche.org/

Accreditation of colleges in Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico.

New England Association of Schools & Colleges – http://www.neasc.org/

Accreditation of colleges in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools – http://www.ncacasi.org/ Accreditation of colleges in Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Mexico, South Dakota, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Northwest Association Of Schools And Colleges – http://www.nwccu.org/ Accreditation of colleges in Alaska, Idaho, Utah, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools – http://www.sacs.org/ Accreditation of colleges in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

Western Association of Schools and Colleges – http://www.wascweb.org/

Accreditation of colleges in California, Hawaii, the territories of Guam, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana’s Islands, the Pacific Basin, East Asia, the Pacific and East Asia where American/International schools are.

You can easily find out if a college or university that you are interested in is accredited by simply visiting the specific regional accrediting board’s website depending on where the college or university is located.

Tri County Technical College was chartered in the year 1982 and is located in South Carolina in United States . It is a public suburban serving single campus college. It is a community college located in Western most tips of North Carolina and part of North Carolina Community College system.

Campus

Address for contact is 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur , Georgia 30033-3097, the college serves Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties. Main campus is located at 4600 East US 64 Murphy, NC; the Graham county campus is located at 145 Moose Branch Rd. Robbinsville , NC 28771 .

Brief History

Founded in 1960, it was approved by North Carolina Board of Education in 1964. Construction of McSwain, West, and Crisp buildings were completed in 1975. Funds were allocated by NC legislature for new building in 1984 that was completed in 1989. The year 1998 saw a land mark achievement with the opening of Graham county center and Sarah Easley student activity wing.

Programs Offered

College transfer, vocational, technical, and adult education programs are offered by the college. Computer science, business administration, accounts, and criminal justice is offered in the Graham county campus. Vocational trades like plumbing and welding are also offered. Both on campus and online education through distance learning are available in the college.

Admission

Open admission policy is followed by the college. Applications from high school graduates are accepted. Individual counseling and career guidance is offered by the college for aspirant students. Dual credit, life experience, and advance placements are accepted as admission credits.

Accreditation

Tri County Technical College is accredited by the North Carolina Board of Cosmetic Arts, North Carolina Board of Nursing, and Commission on College of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate degrees.

Student Support and Financial Aid

Tri County Technical College offers remedial services, academic and career counseling, PT cost defraying employment, on campus day care and library facilities among others as student support program. Various types of financial aids like federal, state, local, and institutional grants, scholarships, and student loans are also offered the details of which can be viewed on the state university website.

When deciding which criminal justice program to attend, the accreditation issue is very important. There are certain things that you should know about accreditation.

What is accreditation?

Accreditation means that a school and its programs have been peer reviewed through site visits by bodies recognized and authorized by the US Department of Education to do so. It, therefore, ultimately means that degrees obtained from accredited schools are recognized across the nation and are accepted as valid by employers.

Who are the recognized accreditation bodies?

The US Department of Education funds eight accreditation bodies. There are six regional accreditation (RA) bodies and two spin-offs of two of the six RA bodies.
These bodies are authorized to grant accreditations to schools falling within their specified regional jurisdictions.

These bodies are:

• the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont);

• the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia);

• the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Panama);

• the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Mexico, South Dakota, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming);

• the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (California, Hawaii, the territories of Guam, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, the Pacific Basin, and East Asia); and,

• the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington).

The two spin-offs are:

• the Western Association’s Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities (see WICHE Best Practices), and,

• the North Central’s Higher Learning Commission (see NCA Best Practices).

If your school is accredited by one of these eight (8) groups, which receive U.S. Dept. of Education funding and operate primarily by site visit-peer review, then you need not worry — your school has the best accreditation there is.

Are there other accreditation bodies?

There are other accreditation bodies and many online schools proudly advertise that they are accredited by one or the other of these bodies. But these so-called accrediting bodies are themselves not accredited so that their accreditations are not worth the paper they are written on.

Out of all these other accrediting bodies there are some that are simply blacklisted and not recognized while there are others that may be accepted as valid in 30 per cent of the organizations that matter. Employers, on the other hand, are likely to reject outright degrees given by schools accredited by these other agencies.

Is there a list of blacklisted schools or a list of schools whose degrees are not recognized?

Yes, at present there are two such lists. One list has been prepared by the state of Michigan and another prepared by the state of Oregon. Employers use these lists to check whether a particular degree from a particular school is worthless or not.

Is accreditation a really important issue?

Yes! It is the most important issue when you are deciding which criminal justice school you should enroll in. If the school you enroll in is not accredited, then the degree that you earn after spending a lot of money and effort will not be worth the paper it is written on. You will be a sucker of the worst kind!