Dear Lincoln University DBA Students:
I am sending this message to you so that you are aware of some accreditation-related events/actions, which affected 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.
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 process of securing specialized program accreditation by a CHEA recognized Business Programs accreditor, International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE), has been about one year ago. After two site visits by IACBE evaluators, Lincoln University has been certified as a Candidate for Accreditation. Full accreditation of all business graduate degree programs (including DBA) by IACBE, is expected before April 2018.
Students currently taking pre-dissertation courses will be able to complete the required courses without any perturbation.
Since the DBA program is not currently accredited, LU has stopped accepting new students in to the DBA program.
Several former DBA students have transferred to other institutions operating accredited DBA programs.
Lincoln University administration has been informed by ACICS that it will phase out the ‘approval’ of the DBA degree program by December 31, 2019.
You are aware of submission of the application for the institutional accreditation of Lincoln University by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Our application for ‘Eligibility’ was approved by WASC in April 2017. Lincoln University is expected to be certified as at least ‘Candidate for Accreditation’ in June 2018. If all goes well, full accreditation for Lincoln University is likely to be granted by WASC prior to the end of 2018. The administration of LU places welfare of its students above all other priorities. Please be assured that as a current doctoral student, you will receive every consideration needed to maximize the benefit, which LU administration can provide, without bypassing any applicable standards and guidelines. If you have any questions concerning your ongoing studies within the DBA degree program, please contact the Director of Business Programs, Dr. Marshall Burak.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Dr. Mikhail Brodsky, President