Rushmore University
Encyclopedia
Rushmore University is an unaccredited institution of higher learning offering master's and doctoral degrees in a variety of business-related fields, exclusively via distance learning.
by Michael Cox (1952-2006), who is said to have held a PhD in Accounting from Oklahoma State University and to have previously taught seven years at the University of Arkansas
and Sam Houston State University
.
As of June 4, 2006 Rushmore had a mailing address in the Cayman Islands
. The Maine Department of Education lists it as having been located in South Dakota, and the Cayman Islands.
in the United States is irrelevant and that Rushmore has instead attained "independent accreditation," as measured solely by the success of its graduates. In the past, Rushmore had claimed approval from a variety of agencies, none of them recognized by the United States Department of Education
(USDE) or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
(CHEA). The Oregon State Office of Degree Authorization
has no evidence that this is an accredited or otherwise acceptable provider of postsecondary education meeting Oregon
standards. Oregon employers should consider degrees from this supplier to be substandard unless each degree program is evaluated in detail by an external evaluator acceptable to ODA. The Maine Department of Education and State of Michigan also list Rushmore as non-accredited.
Rushmore is currently seeking accreditation from the Chartered Management Institute
. This was announced in the August 2009 Rushmore newsletter.
History
Rushmore was started in 1996 in South DakotaSouth Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
by Michael Cox (1952-2006), who is said to have held a PhD in Accounting from Oklahoma State University and to have previously taught seven years at the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
and Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University was founded in 1879 and is the third oldest public institution of higher learning in the State of Texas. It is located in Huntsville, Texas. It is one of the oldest purpose-built institutions for the instruction of teachers west of the Mississippi River and the first...
.
As of June 4, 2006 Rushmore had a mailing address in the Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union located in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica...
. The Maine Department of Education lists it as having been located in South Dakota, and the Cayman Islands.
Accreditation
Rushmore's promotional material claims that the conventionally recognized system of educational accreditationEducational accreditation
Educational accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met...
in the United States is irrelevant and that Rushmore has instead attained "independent accreditation," as measured solely by the success of its graduates. In the past, Rushmore had claimed approval from a variety of agencies, none of them recognized by the United States Department of Education
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
(USDE) or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
Council for Higher Education Accreditation
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation is a United States organization of degree-granting colleges and universities. It identifies its purpose as providing national advocacy for self-regulation of academic quality through accreditation in order to certify the quality of higher education...
(CHEA). The Oregon State Office of Degree Authorization
Oregon State Office of Degree Authorization
The Oregon State Office of Degree Authorization is a unit of the Oregon Student Assistance Commission with responsibilities related to maintaining high standards in private higher education institutions in Oregon...
has no evidence that this is an accredited or otherwise acceptable provider of postsecondary education meeting Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
standards. Oregon employers should consider degrees from this supplier to be substandard unless each degree program is evaluated in detail by an external evaluator acceptable to ODA. The Maine Department of Education and State of Michigan also list Rushmore as non-accredited.
Rushmore is currently seeking accreditation from the Chartered Management Institute
Chartered Management Institute
The Chartered Management Institute is a professional institution for managers, based in the United Kingdom.In addition to supporting its members, the organisation encourages management development, carries out research, produces a wide variety of publications on management interests, and publishes...
. This was announced in the August 2009 Rushmore newsletter.