I blogged about American Pacific University and how the President of the University Matthew James brings in more then $3 Million a Year and the University also being linked to Diploma Mills here
Matt James
Now it looks like the same cat is moving his little scheme to Kona and our own planning commission has accepted it with conditions.
APPLICANT: MATTHEW JAMES (SPP 08-000072)
Special Permit to allow the construction of an administrative office building to operate a distance learning center for the American Pacific University on approximately 0.195 acre of land in the State Land Use Agricultural District. The property is located along the northeast side of Kuakini Highway, directly across from Kona Sea Villas, Kahului 1st,
North Kona, Hawaii, TMK: 7-5-17: portion of 2.
——————————–
PLANNING COMMISSION
ACTIONS
FEBRUARY 19, 2009
APPLICANT: MATTHEW JAMES (SPP 08-000072) – APPROVED WITH
CONDITIONS
Filed under: Announcements, Big Island, Community, County Council, Education, Kona, Legal, Rumors Tagged: | American Pacific University, Diploma Mill, Kona Campus, Matthew James
Hi,
I only report the facts as they exist! Unfornuately most of the education elitist can’t stand the fact that the walls of traditional schools are eroding along with overpriced text books that are out dated the moment they are published.
So long overpriced brick and mortar education. Make way for more efficient and up to date information that is more affordable and relevant especially with the power of the Internet.
Both Lou Goglia (is that a real name?) and Alexander are plants. Alexander, are you seriously going to sit here and say that an MBA from the University of Phoenix is respected? Walk into any real business job in America, tell them you have a degree from the University of Phoenix and watch them laugh at you. And “Kona” university is accredited by the DETC? What the heck is the DETC? And why hasn’t anyone ever heard of it before? Why go to such lengths to defend a guy who is a known fraud? Matt James (whom I refuse to refer to as a PhD.) gets pseudo degrees from U of Phoenix and Walden and then sets up a business modeled after the very diploma mills he got HIS degrees from. And you defend this guy? What are your cutbacks? All for Profit universities have predatory enrollment tactics – preying on people’s insecurities (ahem…”huna”?) and then selling them high-priced pie in the sky solutions in the form of a fake University degree. These guys are frauds and scam artists in every sense of the word. Truly reprehensible human beings. Buyer beware.
I am NOT a “Plant.” I am, however, fully conversant with the facts about this University. Obviously you (anonymous) are not.
APU/ Kona University was accredited by DETC, and anyone with any genuine concern can discover what DETC is, and how long it has been accrediting Distance Learning schools: Simply Google it. If you have never heard of it then that is an indication of your own ignorance and lack of taking the trouble to find out.
Also, APU is a “Non-profit” University, and has been for three years.
You are at liberty to refuse to recognize Matt James’ PhD; that however, does not negate it. It is an accredited degree recognized by the US Dept. of Education and by CHEA, and I think that rather outweighs your rather arrogant stance on the matter. I am certainly in agreement with the idea that distance learning schools are often not up to the same level as state universities, and that is regrettable, but not everyone can afford these in regard to money and time (even more so in these recent times). Distance learning gives people the opportunity to gain an education at some level that they otherwise would not be accessible to them.
There are different levels of accreditation. National accreditation is typically for career colleges…massage, auto mechanics etc. and is much less respected than a Regional accreditation used at the Universities you know like state universities and reputable private schools (Dartmouth, Tulane, Rutgers, etc.. That being said, a nationally accreditated school may be fine if you want to be a massage therapist or hair stylist. No further training needed, so you don’t need to worry if your degree will be accepted by other higher learning institutions, or agencies.
I have attended and worked for a State University and an online school, U of Phoenix, both regioinally accreditated. I have been both an instructor and administrator. For profit schools focus mostly on their profit, and the education is no where near as good as an average state university. Many students skate by leaning heavily on the members of their learning teams to do the heavy lifting. Employers will wonder if you actually did the work, or were a skater. For profit schools also can cost up to 3x what state schools cost. State schools are now getting into the online arena, still using their rigorous standards. For profit schools are masters at getting you enrolled (selling) using manipulative tactics. If you want a respected degree, do yourself a favor and enroll at a regionally accreditated state school. You will save money, learn more, and have much more credibility when you graduate. It is a no brainer. Don’t think you can take a shortcut with some of the flakey schools out there. Your degree from them will be viewed as sub-par.
Employers want to know you had enough brains to choose a reputable school.
It seems that Matt James accomplishments have spotlighted others lack of accomplishments. Having not taken the American Pacific Degree course yet knowing many highly accomplished trainers and therapists who have it was not a diploma mill. A non state institution does not mean fraud. It would appear this University is now acceredited as well. I wish goodluck to Am Pac owners and congratulate them on a good job. Some of those posting here are upset by financial success. I suggest they find a University where the principle is poor living in a trailer like alot of Americans.
The DETC is a legitimate accrediting agency recognized by the US government. That said, I can’t believe that many regionally accredited colleges would accept transfer credits from a school accredited only by the DETC. IMO, a degree from this place would be of very limited use, but not illegal. I’d be careful about calling it a diploma mill. It could get you sued.
Hi,
APU is accredited by the DETC. Unfortunately many of the elitist associated with the Regional cartels can’t stand the fact that on line education is here to stay and will only get bigger.
The Regional cartels are offering on line education because it has gotten so expensive to deliver in the class room and also, there are no jobs for educated individuals.
Good Luck!
Before anyone invests any time or money, check out the official “rip-off report” website and see what this so called university is all about.
Not only does Mr. James have 2 multi-million dollar homes on the Big Island. But the 3 other members of his scam squad also have million dollar homes. Buyer beware!!!!
“Dr.” Matthew James. what a joke. gimme a break. His Dr. degree is from his own university. I have taken one of their courses and they are a big scam. The have to smoothest talking people as instructors, Matt James himself included. I have done a lot research on this, and their version of NLP is mostly a scam. They manipulate you to sign up and take more courses. Dont be fooled by them
Remember Jim Jones and the massacre in Guyana, James Arthur Ray and the Sedona sweatlodge deaths. Mr. James and his entourage – just another of these deluded self-help, self- styled gurus. At worst they’re destructive and dangerous; at best they’ll just rip you off of your hard earned cash.
Ignorance is the root of all evil intent. I can only assume that these negative comments are from disgruntled ex-students who thought if they paid the money they would receive the degree. When they discovered that it took years of hard work they couldn’t cut it.
APU/Kona University is not a diploma mill and never has been. It took ten years of committed work to get that DETC accreditation, and DETC is fully approved by CHEA and the US Dept of Education as an accrediting body.
I have known Matthew James for many years and he DOES NOT have a degree from his own university. He has an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a PhD from Walden University, both respected and fully accredited institutions.
If anyone is going to post on this site then have the common decency to be accurate in what you say. Lies and half-truths are of no benefit to anyone.
This is nonsense. It is simply untrue, and I can only imagine that the writer has some personal agenda in lying: a competitor perhaps? I can see why it is listed as “anonymous. Also, the posting above about the multi-million dollar homes in Hawaii is a nonsense too. Why do people lie in this way I wonder? I did a degree course with APU several years ago and it took 5 years of hard work – a very demanding curriculum. Of course, APU IS accredited by a US government approved accrediting agency : DETC. I believe that APU is now renamed KONA University.
For your information, APU just got accredited by the DETC in Washington DC. I don’t think it is a paper mill as you state in your statement.
Thanks,
Lou Goglia
Lou Goglia is an American Pacific University plant. The “DETC” is a phony accreditation outfit catering to Mr. James, Ms. Derks and their cohorts.
I have been victimized to the tune of 6 grand by these thugs, and I’m going to get it back.
To the person who was victimized to the tune of 6 grand. How goes it? I also have lost money to these morally and ethically bankrupt individuals. I encountered fee raises, lack of cooperation, and down right lying from the people you named.
WARNING! The worst, least value for money spent (cheated out of really), courses available out there. Never deal with these charlatans.
I signed up and looked forward to an event in Philadelphia this week. I cannot believe how bad this training was. Matt James is a tool, and fancies himself as quite the entertainer. He boasts for hours about how great he is and how great NLP is. But there is NO content. He was acting like he was super cool because he had on a cheesey Hawaiian shirt. Am glad I didn’t get taken for $4k. Can’t imagine that anyone would pay for this crap. Amazed that there hasn’t been a 20-20 done on this guy.
I don’t mean this in a sassy way…but what makes it a diploma mill? Because it’s not accredited?
Damon – Here have a click