American University of London

{{Distinguish|University of London|Richmond American University London|American University in London}}

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| name= American University of London

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| type= Unaccredited

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| website= [http://www.auol.us/ auol.us]

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The American University of London (AUOL) is an online diploma mill.{{cite news|url=http://www.arabnews.com/?page=9§ion=0&article=121297&d=7&m=4&y=2009 |title=What's real and what's fake? |author=Wala Hawari & Samir Al-Saadi |newspaper=Arab News |date=7 April 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418224409/http://www.arabnews.com/?page=9§ion=0&article=121297&d=7&m=4&y=2009 |archivedate=18 April 2009}} The company disputes the label{{cite web|url=http://www.americanuniversity.eu/aboutus/accreditation/ |title=AUOL Accreditation |publisher=American University in London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028000321/http://www.americanuniversity.eu/aboutus/accreditation/|archive-date=28 October 2016}} and instead describes itself as a for-profit unaccredited educational institution offering undergraduate and graduate degrees solely by distance learning. It is a different organization from the American University in London.

The institution has no campus. Its website says it was established in 1984 as the American College of Science & Technology and was incorporated as an independent distance learning institution in 1999 in St. Kitts and Nevis. The website lists mailing addresses in London and Beverly Hills, California.[http://www.americanuniversity.eu/ Official website] (Accessed 6 Feb 2013) Bears' Guide and several U.S. state education agencies indicate that the institution is associated with the Anacrusis Institute, an unaccredited institution based in Greece and the United Kingdom.Bear, Mariah P. and John Bear. [https://books.google.com/books?id=k67XC_7y5xEC&dq=%22american+university+of+london%22&pg=PA190 Bears' Guide to Earning Degrees by Distance Learning]. Ten Speed Press, 2003.{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonstudentaid.gov/oda-degree-authorization-academic-unauthorized-Invalid.aspx |title=Unauthorized Schools and Invalid Degrees |publisher=Oregon Office of Degree Authorization |quote=Anacrusis Institute: Greece, UK. Greece does not recognize private degree suppliers. Related to American U of London. |accessdate=March 20, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509021211/http://oregonstudentaid.gov/oda-degree-authorization-academic-unauthorized-Invalid.aspx |archivedate=May 9, 2013 }}[http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/index.cfm?objectid=EF4C3C3B-EB44-4381-6673F760B3946FBB Institutions Whose Degrees are Illegal to Use in Texas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712033711/http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/index.cfm?objectid=EF4C3C3B-EB44-4381-6673F760B3946FBB |date=2017-07-12 }}, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, accessed March 20, 2013

Accreditation status

The university's website and associated prospectus states that it is accredited in the United States by agencies specializing primarily in distance learning.

The Oregon Office of Degree Authorization (ODA) identifies two possibly unrelated entities operating under the name "American University of London", one in St. Kitts and Nevis, the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka, and the other in Saudi Arabia. According to ODA, the Saudi Arabian institution does not have degree-granting authority in Saudi Arabia and neither institution has legal authority to enroll Oregon students and their credentials may not be used in the state.{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonstudentaid.gov/oda-degree-authorization-academic-unauthorized-Invalid.aspx |title=Unauthorized Schools and Invalid Degrees |publisher=Oregon Office of Degree Authorization |accessdate=March 20, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509021211/http://oregonstudentaid.gov/oda-degree-authorization-academic-unauthorized-Invalid.aspx |archivedate=May 9, 2013 }} American University of London also appears on lists of unaccredited colleges and universities maintained by the U.S. states of Maine{{cite web|title=Non-Accredited Colleges & Universities List|publisher=State of Maine Department of Education|url=http://www.maine.gov/education/highered/Non-Accredited/a-am.htm|accessdate=2007-06-20}} and Texas.

According to the AUOL prospectus, the university has "not applied for accreditation with any American nor British official accreditor". The same prospectus adds that its degrees are validated due to their "agreement with a renowned USA agency" who are able to issue Equivalency Certificates to AUOL graduates. This agency is not named. AUOL is also a member of the American Association for Higher Education and Accreditation, which is not a recognized accreditor.Thomas Bartlett, "[http://chronicle.com/daily/2008/08/4337n.htm "Inquiry Into Higher-Education Group Reveals Odd Connections]," Chronicle of Higher Education, Monday, August 25, 2008 AUOL is not a valid UK degree awarding body.{{cite web|url=https://hedd.ac.uk/viewInstitution?id=788|title=American University of London|website=Higher Education Degree Datacheck|publisher=Graduate Prospects|accessdate=22 October 2016}}

References

External links

[http://www.americanuniversity.org.uk/ Official website]

Category:For-profit universities and colleges in Europe

Category:Unaccredited institutions of higher learning

Category:Distance education institutions based in the United Kingdom