Missouri Criticized Over Its Religious Exemption to Degree-Granting Schools

By Steve Rock, The Kansas City Star, Mo.

Jul. 15–Two other unaccredited schools in Missouri illustrate problems with the state’s proprietary schools certification program, according to higher education experts.

The International University in Independence secured a religious exemption in 1986 and has operated with virtually no state oversight. Western States University for Professional Studies in Doniphan, Mo., first applied for state licensure in 1985. Its application was never accepted or rejected, but the school was allowed to grant degrees for more than 20 years.

George Brown — an Australian expert whose paper “Degrees of Doubt: Legitimate, Real and Fake Qualifications in a Global Market” appeared in the Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management — called Missouri “a laughingstock of the international community.”

Brown is particularly critical of Missouri’s exemption from state regulation for schools “owned, controlled and operated by a bona fide religious or denominational organization.” Fewer than half the states in the United States offer a similar exemption, according to the Oregon Office of Degree Authorization. Kansas doesn’t grant religious exemptions.

The International University in Independence offers many degree programs, such as a Ph.D. in philosophy and a “fast track” MBA. One of its Web sites quotes a price of $7,800 for a bachelor’s degree and claims more than 260,000 graduates since 1973. It doesn’t mention a religious affiliation.

For years, people from across the globe have queried Missouri’s Department of Higher Education about the legitimacy of the school. Recent responses from Leroy Wade, who heads the state’s proprietary certification program, note that the university “is not regarded by this department as being a part of the recognized academic community in Missouri.”

The school’s small, stone house headquarters — without identifying signs — is sandwiched between a gas station and a store called the Chop Shop on Noland Road. A school Web site, however, shows students walking near a large, white building.

The school’s founder and chancellor, John W. Johnston of Independence, didn’t return several phone calls from The Kansas City Star. Nobody answered the door when a reporter went to the school on two recent occasions.

When the school received its religious exemption, state law did not restrict the degrees that exempted schools could issue. The law was changed in 1991, limiting degrees to those that are religious or theological in nature.

Asked whether the school complies with state law because it appears to offer nonreligious degrees, Wade said: “That’s something we’ll need to review.”

When Western States officials first applied for state licensure in 1985, they sought to grant degrees based largely on “accrued knowledge,” state records show.

David Chance got his Ph.D. there in 2003. Though he took no classes to earn it, Chance said he had to submit a lengthy compilation of his life’s work.

In February, Chance was sworn in as the Laurel, Miss., fire chief. A city councilman who approved Chance’s appointment recently told The Star he would have favored a different candidate had he known more about Western States.

“We were led to believe it was a legitimate doctorate,” Johnny Magee said.

Officials at Western States couldn’t be reached for comment.

Recently, Western States officials put a notice on their Web site that said the school was no longer issuing degrees but was focusing on “advanced graduate certificate programs.” The school, however, isn’t certified by the state’s higher education department.

To reach Steve Rock, call 816-234-4338 or send e-mail to srock@kcstar.com.

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