American and British Accreditation
Richmond, the American International University in London holds independent accreditation from three separate agencies. The university has earned US accreditation from The Middle States Commission on Higher Education. It is also accredited by the British Accreditation Council for Independent Further and Higher Education as an independent higher education institution. Richmond is approved by The Open University as an appropriate organization to offer higher education programs leading to Open University Validated Awards.
Richmond remains the only American University in the UK which is a member of The Association of American International Colleges & Universities (AAICU).
News update
Dear students and friends of Richmond, the American International University in London,
We are making good progress with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) about our accreditation issues. We remain fully accredited by the MSCHE and they have indicated that we are now fully in compliance with Standard 6 on recruitment. They have remarked that we are making good progress on the issues of developing a new Strategic Plan as well as addressing issues of governance and the organisation of trustees.
We continue to have a good working relationship with The Open University who provide our UK accreditation and we are preparing for their institutional visit in the Spring of 2012. We are also developing plans to seek our own independent degree awarding powers as a UK university.
12th December, 2011
Message on Richmond’s Middle States Accreditation from the Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Dear students and friends of Richmond, the American International University in London,
Recently, the Middle States Association, the body which accredits Richmond University’s US degrees determined that the University should be placed on probationary status as a result of a review carried out in March of this year. It is important to emphasize that Richmond University remains fully accredited and we regard this action by Middle States to be a temporary measure giving us time to resolve some specific issues which have built up over the last few years. These have mainly to do with the university’s governance structure as well as recent changes in US legislation with respect to education financing. We have been working intensively on solutions in both these areas over the past months and will be ready to meet the team from Middle States when they next visit Richmond in early August to review our progress. With a new leadership team in place and focused effort to rectify the shortcomings identified we are confident the outstanding issues will be resolved to the satisfaction of Middle States and that the probationary period will be lifted. We shall update the website in this regard over the coming months.
Our newly appointed President, Professor John Annette, formerly of Birkbeck College, University of London and our new Provost, Professor Phil Deans, formerly of Temple University, look forward to welcoming new and returning students to the Richmond campus at the end of August when they will meet you personally to update you on developments. I too plan to be present to meet as many students as possible at that time. President Annette has asked that the following statement be released on his behalf, “I am confident that building on the well recognised academic excellence of Richmond that we will build new management and governance systems to enable the university to achieve even greater success. I look forward to working with staff, students, alumni and trustees to revitalise the Richmond community.”
Yours sincerely,
A. Michael Hoffman
Chairman of the Board of Trustees
8th July, 2011
UK Special Recognition of the Richmond Degree
The Education (Recognized Awards) (Richmond The American International University in London) Order 2006
UK Border Agency Sponsors Register
Richmond, The American International University in London has been awarded an "A-rated" Tier 4 (Students) Sponsor's Licence by the United Kingdom Borders Agency (www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk). This Sponsor's Licence permits Richmond to issue Certificates of Acceptance for Studies (CASes) to prospective students. A CAS is required by the UKBA for any non-EEA international student seeking to obtain entry clearance to the UK.
Click here to view the Sponsors Register.
Recognized by UK NARIC
UK NARIC is the National Agency responsible for providing information, advice and expert opinion on vocational, academic and professional skills and qualifications from over 180 countries worldwide. Managed on behalf of the UK Government, UK NARIC provides the only official source of information on international qualifications to organisations recruiting from overseas and to individuals wishing to work or study in the UK.
www.naric.org.uk
www.naric.org.uk/index.asp?page=82
UK NARIC
Oriel House
Oriel Road
Cheltenham
Glos, GL50 1XP
t: + 44 1242 258621
f: + 44 1242 258611
International Association of Universities (IAU) database
Richmond, The American International University in London, is pleased to announce the University's listing on the International Association of Universities (IAU) database.
This database contains all higher education institutions, worldwide, that offer postgraduate diplomas/degrees. Other institutions listed include the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and the many arts, science, business and music colleges of the University of London.
More information and full details of this prestigious international list can be found using the link below.
www.unesco.org/iau/onlinedatabases/list.html
Excerpts from the 2006 Ten Year Re-accreditation Report of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education : Richmond The American International University In London
Richmond is one of the few European-based colleges or universities enjoying full stand-alone accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education which oversees all the universities in the Middle Atlantic region of the USA including such well-regarded institutions as Princeton and Columbia.
Once every ten years, the Commission sends a team of educators to visit each accredited institution in order to get a first-hand assessment and to determine whether the university should be reaccredited for another ten year span. Richmond’s turn was April of 2006. At that time, the visiting team determined that the University fully satisfied all 14 Middle States ‘standards of excellence’, without any requirements for improvement.
The following are excerpts from the report, a full copy of which is available in the University’s Taylor Library.
"The team commends Richmond University for living its mission. We believe the institution is well-positioned for a distinctive leadership role across the global higher education landscape."
"Richmond has a clearly defined mission which is well-integrated into the life of the University."
"Rich cultural exchanges within a setting of a responsible international community are a hallmark of Richmond University. Academic freedom, intellectual freedom and a culture of freedom of expression are inherent at Richmond."
"It is clear that Richmond has created a unique position with its distinctive ability to attract an international student population ready to focus on educational pursuits."
"The Student Affairs professionals, faculty and other staff provide a strong foundation for the provision of student support services."
"The team was impressed by the faculty’s qualifications and professional dedication."
"The mission of the institution includes reference to the skills and experiences important for students to succeed in responsible positions with global understanding. There are numerous programs, services and leadership opportunities which enhance this aspect of the mission."
"The faculty has clearly embraced Richmond’s special mission of international and multicultural education, one visible throughout the academic programs in each discipline. The multicultural student population is likewise reflected in a diverse faculty."
"Richmond faculty are fully involved in the development and delivery of curricula and academic programs and are intensely committed to the institution’s international mission of global leadership in an interdependent world."
"The educational programs and curricula exhibit sufficient content, rigor and depth."
"The team commends the Library for having excellent materials available through its website."
"The Richmond Internship program provides challenging and rewarding professional experiences for students during their junior and senior years. Students are able to translate classroom learning to the workplace, make contacts which may prove valuable to students’ future employment prospects, and gain confidence in their capabilities, creativity, and communication skills."
In June 2006, following the report of the Visiting Evaluation Team submission of the report from which these excerpts were taken, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education reaccredited Richmond, without further requirement, for the maximum ten-year renewal period to 2016, thereby sustaining Richmond’s status as England’s only Middle States accredited American university.
Link to this page: http://www.richmond.ac.uk/s/676.aspx
