Dear Lincoln University DBA Students:
I am sending this message to you so that you are aware of some accreditation-related events/actions which affect the DBA degree program at Lincoln University (LU).
When you started your studies at LU in the DBA degree program, LU was accredited as an institution by Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), a national (and international) accreditation agency certified by the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE). LU has been in good standing with ACICS as an accredited institution for 26 years. The DBA degree program was accredited, along with all other degree programs at LU, by ACICS.
Earlier last year, ACICS informed us about the questioning, by USDOE, of the validity of the accreditation of the DBA program by ACICS. The administration of LU, along with the administrations of other ACICS accredited institutions offering doctoral programs, were asked to post a clarification in their catalogs to indicate that the ACICS accreditation of doctoral programs is not recognized by USDOE.
We realize that this action may diminish the value of the DBA degree, which you expect to receive after satisfying all requirements for the award of this degree at LU. To address this unanticipated action by our accreditor, the administration of LU is taking the actions listed below:
The processes of securing specialized program accreditation by International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) and school accreditation by Western Association of Colleges and Schools (WASC) have been initiated. It is anticipated that LU will be certified as a Candidate for IACBE Accreditation in April 2017 and for WASC by June 2018.
Since the DBA program is not currently accredited, LU has stopped accepting new students into the DBA program. We plan to resume acceptance of new DBA students after the doctoral program is accredited by IACBE.
As a current DBA student, it may be in your interest to delay the submission of your doctoral dissertation until the DBA program is accredited or transfer to another accredited DBA program.
The administration of LU places welfare of its students above all other priorities. We achieved agreement with the administration of WASC accredited Argosy University (located near by in Alameda) that they accept our students and transfer 15 credits to their DBA program. We strongly recommend transfer specifically for students in the initial part of the study. We plan to have Dr. Sylnovie Merchant, Department Chair, Graduate School of Business and Management, and Ms. Anya Elder, Director of Student Services, from Argosy University to participate in an informational meeting with our students on Wednesday April 26 at 11:45 am in the Board Room (#206). Dr. Merchant will answer your questions related to the transfer.
Dr. Mikhail Brodsky, President