In some ways this is old news, because the Leadership Institute Of Seattle is no longer with Bastyr University. I suspect that LIOS is not part of Bastyr University any longer in part because of the complaints that I made about LIOS's not following NWCCU standards to the US Department of Education and the subsequent dialog between US DoED and Bastyr University that I obtained via FOIA.
Who would have guessed that the NorthWest Commission on Colleges and Universities would send me a letter (dated June 30, 2008) in which Sandra Elman said "To reiterate, LIOS is not accredited by the NWCCU, nor is it a candidate or pre-candidate institution with the Commission. LIOS is not now, nor has it ever been, governed or administered by Bastyr University." I have a Bastyr University transcript indicating that I earned 9.5 graduate level credits; Bastyr University granted these credits for work done at LIOS even though I left LIOS before taking any exams.
When I looked at Bastyr University's website and literature (including the student handbook) it appeared that LIOS was part of Bastyr University. When I complained to Bastyr University about some what transpired at LIOS, I was told by their administration that these things were not their responsibility. Isn't that the sort of thing that they should have explicitly mentioned in the various media presented to the public?
I have known others who have attended -- actually attended -- Bastyr University and found it to be worthy of the excellent reputation that it has. Hopefully they won't repeat past mistakes, though they were probably themselves led astray due to the nauture of the NWCCU's "Operational Policy A-6" and so I don't see Bastyr University as entirely to blame.
If you're considering one of their programs, and you know that they are really administering it, you will probably have a great, worthwhile experience. Good luck!
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