Blackstone Announces Its DETC Accreditation
January 2005: Blackstone Career Institute, one of the nation’s first distance education schools and a division of Direct Learning Systems Inc., announced its accreditation from the Accreditation Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) January 10, 2005.
Approved by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency, the DETC is also recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and strives to identify schools that offer high quality distance education. DETC accreditation enables Blackstone students to qualify for tuition reimbursement from many U.S. companies and organizations. It also underscores Direct Learning System’s growth as a leading provider of innovative online educational services.
“DETC accreditation is a tremendous achievement for us because it recognizes and validates the quality of our school’s online career education and distinguishes Blackstone from other providers of distance education,” said Kevin McCloskey, President of Direct Learning Systems, Inc. “Our entire staff has worked very hard to obtain this honor. It will provide attractive opportunities for students to participate in employer-sponsored tuition reimbursement and financial aid programs.”
Michael Lambert, Executive Director of the Accreditation Commission for the DETC, said, “Blackstone Career Institute is an outstanding provider of career education, and we are delighted to grant it DETC accreditation. Our rigorous selection process includes review of the school’s programs, instructors, finances, facilities, and admission policies. Our Accrediting Commission determined that Blackstone delivers what it promises: a high quality, accessible and affordable career education for students around the globe.”
The DETC review process includes submission of an in-depth self-evaluation report; review of all courses by subject matter experts; survey of students, graduates, state departments of education, federal agencies, Better Business Bureaus, and other official bodies; and an on-site inspection. The review of Blackstone also included an intensive review of its curriculum by highly qualified law and medical school professors from accredited schools across the country.
About Blackstone
Blackstone Career Institute is a private, licensed, accredited career school offering diploma programs in Legal Assisting/Paralegal, Medical Transcription, Medical Billing & Coding, Medical Office, and Dental Office. Established in 1890, Blackstone has pioneered the delivery of high quality distance education and is now delivering coursework via the Internet. The school serves working professionals, homemakers, family caretakers and others who choose to pursue career education from a distance. More than 2,000 students are enrolled at Blackstone, including students in all 50 states and several countries around the world. More than one-third of the students already hold post-secondary degrees. Unlike traditional career school students, students never have to step foot into a classroom. Utilizing a computer with Internet access, students can enter Blackstone online while at the library, school, home, or Internet center. To learn more about Blackstone, visit the website at blackstone.edu.
About the DETC
To learn more about the DETC, visit the website at www.deac.org.
