Is Shepperton University Recognized?
Accreditation is a voluntary process and each college or university may decide for it self if accreditation is appropriate and necessary to accomplish its education mission. For those universities that seek Federal Government educational funding, accreditation by an agency recognized by the Department of Education is required.
Accreditation can be important for the school and the student. But that importance is confused by several factors. There are no significant national standards for accreditation. The accreditation of a school in one state might not be acceptable in another state. There are seven regional accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. These regional accrediting agencies carry the highest level of recognition and acceptance in the U.S.A.
The degree programs offered at Shepperton University are not designed to be used for admittance to a graduate school or to meet any particular licensing or accreditation standards. If you are seeking a degree for licensing purposes, Shepperton University advises you to check with that licensing body or association to determine if that degree would be accepted.
Shepperton University is international in scope, offering its degree programs to accomplished adults around the world. Accreditation by an accreditation agency recognized by the Department of Education in the US is neither warranted nor necessary to achieve its education mission. Shepperton University does not seek Federal Government funding and has no need to meet this eligibility.
Shepperton University has not applied for any accreditation that would be recognized by the US Department of Education. Nor would it qualify for such accreditation due to its non-traditional and non-resident international status.
The European Committee for Home and Online Education (www.echoe.org) recognizes and has accepted as a fully complying member Shepperton University. ECHOE was established as a professional endorsement association to provide employers and other interested parties with a resource to determine the acceptability of a particular degree that is granted from a nontraditional institution.

How long has Shepperton University been in business?
Shepperton University has been accepting new students since September 1982. Currently we have close to 800 actively enrolled students. Shepperton University has an open enrollment policy, which means students are enrolling and graduating on a daily basis.

How does the tuition cost compare between traditional
education and distance learning?
The cost of a degree achieved through distance learning is a fraction of the cost of a degree offered through traditional residential study programs. The reason is simple. In distance learning students do not pay for extra curricular costs such as stadiums, classroom maintenance, University security, Student Centers, sporting programs, and so forth. Therefore, distance learning programs are much more affordable because operating costs are significantly less.

What are the University’s colors?
The University’s colors are teal blue and silver.

Do I have to purchase my textbooks through Shepperton University?
No, You may purchase books wherever you wish. We do provide a list of books required for each course.

Do I have to take the courses in the order that they appear on my course outline?
It is not required that students follow the order of the curriculum outline.

What is the difference between earning a degree with a traditional University and a distance learning University such as Shepperton?
The major difference is the method of learning. Resident study, by its very nature, is inflexible and instruction is generally delivered on a group basis as opposed to an independent basis. With Shepperton University distance learning degree programs, your method of learning is individualized, using an independent study format and a one to one tutorial method. Study time is done at the student’s convenience, and instruction is designed to progress at the individual student’s level.

What is credit for “work/life” experience?
The process is termed “challenge.” Work and life experience is credit granted by Shepperton University for job training, seminars, military training and life experience. Work and life experience translates into University credit when there is a substantial correlation between on the job training and/or life experience and the course requirement(s).

Methods of Course Completion:
Transfer Credit - are courses that a student has completed as another University that are similar in content and description to the course the student is required to take at Shepperton University. The student would supply Shepperton University with official transcripts for evaluation of transfer credit.

Work/Life Experience - is granted when the student has the equivalent knowledge of a course requirement and that knowledge has been gained through work/life experience. The student may supply documentation on a course by course basis by means of training seminars/certificates, third party verification (past or current employers), and by writing a brief synopsis of that course. The Student would attach the documentation to a Challenge Form that is supplied in the Student Forms packet. After faculty reviews the Challenge, finds it acceptable, the student will receive a grade. Challenging course work is done after registering as a student.

Curriculum Study - course requirements not met through transfer credit or work/life experience will be completed through Curriculum Study. This simply means the student would obtain the required text, read the text and then complete the comprehensive, open book final exam. If an exam is not available the student would write a short (10 page) Applied Knowledge Paper that would demonstrate a knowledge of the required text and an ability to apply that knowledge to their specific situation.

How long does it take to complete a degree program? When can I graduate?
Shepperton University utilizes an open enrollment policy, allowing students to work at their own pace without the stringent guidelines presented by the traditional academic year. Each degree program has an allotted time for completion and most students complete their degree obligations well within the time allotment.

Will credits from Shepperton University transfer to other institutions of higher learning?
Credit transfer varies widely. The fact that an institution is accredited does not mean another school accredited by a different association will automatically accept transfer of credit.
It is the responsibility of each student to determine, prior to registration with Shepperton University, that his or her degree program will meet admission or transfer requirements with regard to another institution.

Will I be certified in the state in which I live, or in any state?
The answer depends on the certification requirements of a particular state, as they may vary widely. Each state sets its own standards, criteria, and laws with regard to certification and licensing. It is the student’s responsibility to determine in advance whether or not the degree program will meet a certification or licensing requirement. This is very important because each state may have different requirements and those may change periodically.

Will my diploma and/or transcript specify distance learning or external studies?
No, there will be nothing noted on either the diploma or the transcript that reflects the learning was done at a distance.



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