Warnborough College

The name Warnborough is associated with several related institutions of higher education existing in the period between 1973 and the present, including Warnborough College Oxford, Warnborough University, Warnborough College, and Warnborough College Ireland. Warnborough offers non-accredited distance-learning education from the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Warnborough College Oxford (1973–1996)

Warnborough College at Oxford was founded in Oxford, England, in 1973 by Brenden Tempest-Mogg, an Australian, who had attended Hertford College in 1970.King, Tim (1996-10-25). Oxford College Sued in US is Repossessed. "The Daily Telegraph(UK)"] In no way affiliated with the University of Oxford, it offered study abroad programs and catered largely to American undergraduate and graduate students who would spend a semester or year abroad as part of their academic program. ["Queensland Courier-Mail", November 10, 1993, Residential Property section, p. 35] Other offerings included Warnborough College International Summer Schools, [citation | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=9406EED8143BF93BA25752C0A967948260 | title=Vacationing at an Overseas University | newspaper=The New York Times | date=1981-01-18] and a venue for summer conferences. [citation | newspaper=The Guardian | date=1990-02-19 | url= | title= ] It was founded on Warnborough Road in North Oxford in 1973, and moved to Yatscombe Hall, former home to the Greek scholar Gilbert Murray and Lord Shawcross, at Boars Hill, about four miles from the city of Oxford, in 1976. The Boars Hill facilities included a lodge for the teaching staff and two Victorian Gothic mansions, one used as the women's dorm and one used as a men's dorm and for classes.citation | url=http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=2144299&date=19951001&query=warnborough | title=Students Find Warnborough Is Not A Part Of Oxford | newspaper=Seattle Times | date=1995-10-11]

In 1985, Warnborough College began offering a study abroad program in Sydney, Australia as well, and later expanded to Brisbane. [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20001208074900/www.warnborough.ac.uk/history.html Warnborough College Overview (From Internet Archive)] ]

Notable former students of Warnborough College Oxford include former surgeon and businessman Kneeland Youngblood, [ [http://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/biography.asp?bioindex=924 Dr. Kneeland Youngblood Biography] (interviewed on 2004-10-28, The HistoryMakers website)] In 1995 Warnborough enrolled its first group of students on-site in a four-year academic program.

Warnborough generated controversy for representing itself as being related to Oxford University. Oxford University threatened Warnborough College with a lawsuit over these misrepresentations [O'Leary,John and Charter, David, US "students say college misled them over link with Oxford" The Times (London) (October 3, 1995)] and Warnborough was sued, together with its president and Mark Huck, its recruiting coordinator in Seattle, by the Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board. [citation | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE1D91531F931A35753C1A963958260 | title=Americans Say a College Near Oxford Duped Them | newspaper=The New York Times | date=1995-10-02 ] and by former students. The lawsuit by former students resulted in a judgment against Warnborough College by the Superior Court of King County, Washington of nearly $300,000. [ [http://www.edweek.org/login.html?source=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.altavista.com%2Fweb%2Fresults%3Fitag%3Dody%26q%3D%2522warnborough%2Bcollege%2522%2Bsued%26kgs%3D1%26kls%3D0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.edweek.org%2Few%2Farticles%2F1997%2F03%2F12%2F24brief.h16.html&levelId=2100&baddebt=false "News In Brief: State Capitols Roundup", Education Week (March 12, 1997) ] ] Hertford College was reported to be pursuing legal action against Warnborough College to recover a property rental debt of 6,000 pounds, and other creditors owed tens of thousands of pounds hired private detectives to track down the principals after they abruptly returned to Australia. [ [http://web.archive.org/web/19970522085740/http://cherwell.ospl.co.uk/archive/Michaelmas1996/Issue4/news/header5.html Pritikin, Susan (1996-10-31) College? What College? "Cherwell(Oxford, UK)"] ] [ [http://www.independent.ie/education/latest-news/chequered-history-of-controversial-college-1290114.html Phelan, Shane Chequered history of controversial college "Irish Independent" (February 15, 2008)] ] In October 1995, the United States Department of Education suspended, [ [http://www.ed-oha.org/cases/1995-146-ea.html In Re Warnborough College, US Dept of Education Docket No 95-146-EA ((Dec 6, 1995)] ] and 1996 it terminated the eligibility of Warnborough College UK to participate in the federal student financial assistance programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 on the basis that (i) it was not a degree-granting institution, (ii) its credits were not freely transferable; and (iii) it had no eligible vocational programs. It also fined the college for (i) failing to make refunds to students in accord with Title IV and Warnborough's own refund policies; and (ii) responsibility for misrepresentations to students that it was a part of Oxford University and had degree-granting authority. [http://www.ed-oha.org/cases/1995-164st.html In Re Warnborough College, US Dept of Education Docket Nos. 95-164-ST, 96-60-SF (Aug 9, 1996)] ] Due to resulting financial problems, the Boars Hill properties were repossessed by creditors, and its corporate owner, Oxford International Educational Enterprises Ltd, directed by brothers Brenden and Daryl Tempest-Mogg and their elderly mother, Ethel Tempest-Mogg, wound up on a petition by Inland Revenue. In the summer of 1996, Warnborough relocated temporarily to offices rented from New Road Baptist Church in Central Oxford. The Tempest-Moggs returned to Australia in July 1996, and the New Road office closed in August 1996. In October 1996 Warnborough went into liquidation.citation | title=College that lured U.S. students goes bust | newspaper=The Times (London) | date=1996-10-29]

Distance education programs

In 1997 Warnborough University registered as a limited company in Ireland, directed by Brenden Tempest-Mogg and Kee Guan Ng, a Malaysian national, now operating from offices in London.

In November 2005, the Department of Education and Science said that Warnborough University in Ireland was in breach of the Universities Act 1997 by calling itself a university, and requested that they not use the word "university" to describe themselves. [citation | url=http://www.independent.ie/education/latest-news/exposed-scandal-of-the-bogus-degrees-230591.html | title=Exposed: scandal of the bogus degrees | newspaper=Irish Independent | date=2005-11-14] In January 2006 Warnborough in Ireland registered as Warnborough College.

Warnborough College (UK) is located in Canterbury, Kent, and Warnborough College (IE) has offices in Dublin. Warnborough College (IE) initially had a registered office in Cork, and later opened offices in a business center in Bray. For two years it rented offices from All Hallows College in Drumcondra. In February 2008, the Irish Independent reported that All Hallows officials were concerned that Warnborough had falsely represented itself as linked to All Hallows, which had no involvement in Warnborough's academic programs or arrangements. At All Hallow's request, Warnborough removed photographs of All Hallows from its website. All Hallows said that it would not renew Warnborough's lease after August 2008.citation | url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/college-charges-836418000-fees-for-useless-degrees-1290087.html | title=College charges €18,000 fees for 'useless' degrees | last=Phelan | first=Shane | coauthors=Walshe, John | newspaper=Irish Independent | date=2008-02-15]

Warnborough College (IE) offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of disciplines, principally by distance learning. Warnborough College (UK) issues certificates and diplomas, but not degrees, in a number of short-course vocational and personal-enrichment subjects, exclusively by distance learning. [ [http://www.warnborough.ac.uk Warnborough College | Distance Education | Correspondence | Home Study Courses | e-Learning ] ] Warnborough's distance-education bookkeeping courses lead to Level 1 and Level 2 certification from the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers. [ [http://www.book-keepers.org/where_to_study/distance_learning Recommended Bookkeeping Courses ] ] Warnborough College UK is a member of the Association of Business Executives (ABE) and offers tuition services for students sitting for the ABE [http://www.abeuk.com/aboutabe/ short courses] , covering business management and tourism and hospitality. Warnborough is in an academic partnership with St. Theresa's Medical University (St. Kitts) for automatic admission of holders of Warnborough College (UK) Pre-Medical diplomas and issuance of dual degrees with Warnborough College (IE). [ [http://www.stmu.org/dual-degree.html STMU Dual Degree Program] ]

Accreditation

Warnborough College (UK) does not have the educational accreditation necessary to be a chartered university in the U.K., and does not offer recognized British degrees. [cite web | last=Montell | first=Gabriela | title=What You Need To Know Before You Work Abroad | publisher=The Chronicle of Higher Education | date=2000-10-13 | url=http://chronicle.com/jobs/2000/10/2000101301c.htm | accessdate=2007-12-26 ]

In July 2008, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) announced that it had denied Warnborough College(IE)'s application for accreditation because Warnborough failed to agree to quality-control procedures, which was the first step in the accreditation process. [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article4323451.ece O'Sullivan, Sarah, "Authorities refuse to recognize web college" "The Sunday Times" July 18, 2008] ]

Warnborough College (IE) courses are not recognized by Ireland's Department of Education, HETAC, or the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI). In February 2008, Sean O'Foghlu, chief executive of NQAI told the "Irish Independent" that because Warnborough College is not a recognised higher education institution or awarding body, the qualifications are "effectively worthless."

Warnborough degrees are not accepted in Texas, [http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/AAR/PrivateInstitutions/NoTX.cfm Institutions Whose Degrees are Illegal to Use in Texas] ] Oregon, [http://www.osac.state.or.us/oda/unaccredited.aspx Unaccredited Colleges] , Oregon State Office of Degree Authorization] by Michigan civil service, [ [http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Non-accreditedSchools_78090_7.pdf Colleges and Universities Not Accredited by CHEA] ] Maine [ [http://janus.state.me.us/LEGIS/STATUTES/20-A/title20-Ach410sec0.html Maine state law] restricts the use of false academic credentials, including those granted by unaccredited institutions; Warnborough appears on the state's list of unaccredited instutions. [http://www.maine.gov/education/highered/Non-Accredited/non-accredited.htm] ] or in Australia. A Warnborough degree is not accepted in South Korea for purposes of obtaining an E-2 Visa. [ [http://www.englishwork.com/english/bbs/view.html?menu=&s_menu=&code=notice_eng&slide=select&num=64&page=1&number=72&keyfield=&key= ▒ ESL Teacher Placement Agency - EnglishWork ▒ ] ] [ [http://www.koreapot.com/bbs.php?inc=view&num=10&ctg=6&page=1&keyfield=&key=&andor= ::Koreapot:: ] ]

The Warnborough U.K. web site says Warnborough U.K. is accredited by the International Accreditation and Recognition Council (IARC). [http://www.warnborough.ac.uk/general/accreditation.aspx (accessed May 9, 2008)] The IARC lists Warnborough as "recognized" by and a member of the organization, [ [http://www.iarcedu.com/directory.aspx IARC Directory of members] (accessed January 25, 2008)] but its website states that its recognition of an institution "does not guarantee any sort of acceptance by any particular country or government" [ [http://www.iarcedu.com/default.aspx International Recognition for Education and Accredited Courses ] ] and "should not be seen as a replacement to any National system (of accreditation) presently existing, but as an adjunct to it." [ [http://www.iarcedu.com/mission.aspx IARC Mission Statement] ]

References

ee also

* Educational accreditation
* List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning

External links

* [http://www.warnborough.edu Warnborough Worldwide]
* [http://www.warnborough.ac.uk/ Warnborough College (England)]
* [http://www.warnborough.ie/ Warnborough College (Ireland)]
* [http://www.osac.state.or.us/oda/unaccredited.html Unaccredited colleges] by Oregon State Office of Degree Authorization
* [http://www.warnborough.ie/aboutwc/faq.htm Warnborough College Ireland FAQ]