Comment from the Founder, Dr. Paul Leon Masters, Ph.D.“In founding the University of Metaphysics and the University of Sedona, one of the most important reasons I did so was to bring greater legitimacy to the field of metaphysical spirituality. The field has always been under attack from extremist fundamentalist religious groups as well as academics, especially in regard to degree granting schools in the metaphysical field.
Unfortunately, the criticism has been justified in many instances by people running outright diploma mills—or others using accrediting mills. Since inception of my work in the metaphysical field in 1959 to our first graduating class of ministers in 1963, one of the first priorities was to maintain honesty and integrity. Since 1959, the intention has always been to bring further legitimacy to the metaphysical field, so that higher metaphysical education and metaphysical spirituality might gain further acceptance in the world as a realistic alternative for people who could not be nourished spiritually by traditional religions.
If you, like myself, would like to have a better acceptance of metaphysical spirituality in the world, then enroll or be a member of only schools and ministries which do not bring the field down through deceptive or misleading practices. This will give the entire field of metaphysical spirituality greater legitimacy and public acceptance of its schools, counselors, coaches, and wellness ministers.”
metaphysical AccreditationInformation for International Prospective Students
Accelerated Metaphysics degrees bestowed by metaphysical organizations are religious in nature and are earned solely by the study of metaphysical philosophy with an emphasis on spirituality. By focusing entirely on one subject - the study of metaphysical spirituality - and not including the secular subjects like Calculus, English Literature, Biology, Chemistry etc, a legitimate metaphysical institution is able to offer a home study degree program that can be completed in far less time than a secular degree —but not in little or no time, which would be a diploma mill. Because metaphysical degrees are religious in nature, the US Department of Education, under US Federal Law, can neither praise, credit, discredit, nor accredit metaphysical institutions of a religious nature.The founding fathers of the United States of America, in order to guarantee a republic based on religious freedom, created a distinct division between the government and religion. This basic precept is commonly known to most US citizens as The Separation of Church and State, but may not be well known outside the US. Simply stated, this foremost principle of religious freedom is the government will not become involved in matters dealing with religious beliefs, or things of a spiritual nature, and no religion will seek to involve itself in governmental affairs.
Worldly or secular matters are in the domain of the US Government, while the non-secular spiritual realm of individuals and society is off-limits. Since the International Metaphysical Ministry, parent religious corporation of the University Of Metaphysics and the University Of Sedona, is legally recognized by the United States Federal Government as a non-secular, spiritual/metaphysical 501(c)(3) organization, the US Department of Education in Washington, D.C. must adhere to the founding precepts of religious freedom and The Separation of Church and State, and it must refrain from all comment, opinion, or intrusion.
Information for All Prospective StudentsThe US Department of Education, by law, can neither praise, credit, discredit, nor accredit a non-secular institution of Higher Consciousness/Spiritual Education. Therefore, we offer the following list of points for consideration by individuals when choosing an institution in which to pursue their Higher Consciousness Spiritual Education:
What is the history of the Institution/Organization?
We have 54 years—over half a century—of development in research, teaching, and awarding ministers diplomas and degrees. Some others have only a very few years and some are totally new and unproven to stand the test of time. Dr. Paul Leon Masters, the founder in 1959, is still the active president of our University System.
Does the Institution/Organization claim accreditation of any kind?
If so, our advice is run away as fast as you can. Why? One word: Integrity! Or rather, lack thereof.
Since valid and recognized accreditation in the real sense does not exist in the spiritual/metaphysical field, some institutions/organizations try to deceive prospective students and the public by attempting to make themselves look more reputable than they really are. They try to cover up their lack of reputation and established history by affiliating with an “accreditation mill”. One has to question the intentions and integrity of an organization that knowingly affiliates with an accreditation mill, or the intelligence behind the institution or organization that unknowingly affiliates with an accreditation mill.
The public is currently aware of the term “diploma mill” – but the term “accreditation mill” is something new and is just now beginning to come to the public’s attention. We advise prospective students to avoid any institution accredited through an accreditation mill in choosing where to study and receive a degree. You would not want your reputation to be professionally blemished by such accreditation shams, and the operators that utilize them, and have yourself identified with them, as if you, yourself, are unreputable. For an informative article by the Seattle Times about accreditation mills, please see
http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/ ... e20m0.htmlLastly, some metaphysical schools affiliate with a so-called accreditation agency whose focus of professionalism is quite a stretch to include the spiritual or metaphysical. If one is not careful, his or her degree in metaphysics may be accredited by an operation run out of a post office box that has never bothered to obtain a business license.
Does the institution/organization have actual experience in the field?
Some operators have had little or no actual experience in teaching, counseling, or ministry in the metaphysical field. So, with no hands-on real world experience, they try to teach others “how to” do that which they, themselves, have very little or any experience doing.
Dr. Masters, head of the International Metaphysical Ministry’s University System, has had large followings in his full time metaphysical ministry before some of these operators were even born. With the absence of a legitimate accreditation agency in the metaphysical spiritual realm, background and long standing experience should be a primary consideration rather than any emphasis on meaningless so-called accreditations.
In ConclusionA metaphysical degree is only as good as the organization with which it is associated. Degrees from the University of Metaphysics and the University of Sedona are granted under the auspices of the International Metaphysical Ministry.
The International Metaphysical Ministry is the largest Holistic, New Thought, Transcendental Metaphysical Ministry in the world with successful and respected ministers, teachers, counselors, and coaches in over 120 countries. We have graduated far more ordained metaphysical ministers than any other metaphysical denomination or ministry in the world. Our reputation for over 54 years has been, and continues to be, the leader of Higher Consciousness Education in the metaphysical field.
Our University System does not use “accreditation mills”, or so called accrediting agencies, which are not recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, because it is a deceptive practice. Others operating in the metaphysical field have chosen to use accreditation mills with names that sound very impressive, even though, by their own admission, these are not recognized accreditors. We rely on our unblemished reputation of over half a century. In all that time, there has never been one complaint or action filed against any of the University System’s institutions or organizations.
What Is The Size Of The Organization? Our University System is proud of its ministers, teachers, counselors, and coaches in over 120 countries.
Does The Organization Offer A Successful, Relevant Spiritual Education? Our University System has more ordained metaphysical ministers than any metaphysical ministry in the world.
What Experience Does The Organization Have? Dr. Masters, founder of the I.M.M. University System, continues to add to his 54 years of research/teaching in practically all phases of metaphysics from A to Z—alchemy and astrology to Zen and Zoroastrianism.
Does The Organization Have A Longstanding Reputation? The International Metaphysical Ministry University System enjoys an unblemished history of over half a century—54 years.
Does The Organization Reflect Your Integrity? The International Metaphysical Ministry University System refuses to deceive the public by claiming status and value through an accreditation mill.
We believe that the University Of Metaphysics or the University Of Sedona is the wisest choice for pursuing your non-secular degree and Higher Consciousness Education. This is not a self-serving statement. It is based on 54 years of fulfilling the Higher Educational Degree needs of thousands upon thousands of students and graduates in 120 countries worldwide.
metaphysics accreditationMore On Accreditation— Cautionary Guidance —
The Value of Accreditation from a Recognized Accrediting Agency----Portability of educational credits within the educational system regulated by the US Government.
----Meeting educational background qualifications when applying for secular employment or admission to secular organizations.
The Non-Value of Accreditation at Schools of Metaphysical Spirituality for Use in Ministry----Reputable accreditation doesn’t exist.
----Accreditation mills give a false expectation regarding the legitimacy of organizations, leading to harm. See Seattle Times article regarding accreditation mills:
http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/ ... le20m0.htm .
----If a person’s focus is to be active in a Holistic, New Thought, Transcendental Metaphysical Ministry, there is no need that the school be accredited—only that the school’s curriculum adequately prepares its degree graduates with the schooling necessary to function in a professional ministerial capacity in the Holistic, New Thought, Transcendental Metaphysical field.
---Instead of choosing a school based on accreditation--which does not exist in the metaphysical religious field,--the choice should be centered upon the longevity of the school’s existence, the years of actual professional experience of the founder or current president of the school, and the honesty and integrity of its reputation over a long period of time.
Today’s World: Importance of Time In OperationIn the current economic climate—many businesses, including schools, are going out of business or ceasing to operate. Both common sense and intuitive spiritual sense should be applied in making a decision as to which school to choose. Only the I.M.M. University System (the University of Metaphysics and the University of Sedona) has a history of development dating back over 54 years. No other metaphysical degree-granting ministry even remotely comes close. The question to ask is, will the school I enroll in be there tomorrow so that I may finish my studies—and will they be there after I graduate?
The I.M.M. University System with a history of over 54 years’ development has proven and established that they had the spiritual and material resources and power to sustain many previous recessions in the economy. No other currently operating Metaphysical degree granting ministry comes close to this record of economic endurance.
Cautionary Guidance—Beware of Accreditation MillsAccreditation Mills are unfortunately being used by operators of a few metaphysical degree operations. Most of these operations that use them have tried to imitate the success they have seen in the I.M.M. Universities. Because they want instant success, they have not been willing to earn it through decades as have the I.M.M. Universities. Instead they have bought so-called accreditation from accreditation mills. The names of these so-called accreditation mills sound impressive to anyone who has not looked into the subject of legitimate accreditation and what it takes for a school to be legitimately accredited. A legitimate accrediting agency, to be so, must be recognized by the United States Department of Education in Washington, D.C. The I.M.M. University System (the University of Metaphysics and the University of Sedona) has never and will never engage in such misleading accreditation mill scams for the sake of enrollments—because it has earned its reputation through a history of development covering over 54 years of honesty and integrity!
Both common sense and intuitive spiritual sense should say---that any school, metaphysical or otherwise, who builds its reputation on deception of accreditation mills, has not earned the respect worthy of a student’s enrollment.
In referring to two accrediting mill names, one metaphysical degree operation refers to them as the most prominent in the United States for accrediting a metaphysical institution. However, both of the accrediting mills are in fact run by the same individuals. To further add to the illusionary status—one school states that graduates of its school can be eligible to apply for membership in the accrediting mill organizations. It makes no sense to first sign up with a degree granting operation trying to give itself unearned status by hiding behind accrediting mills, and what could be even more foolish than anybody wanting to be a member of an accrediting mill upon graduating from an operation that publicizes itself as being accredited by an accrediting mill.
Real accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education charge schools applying for accreditation thousands of dollars to have the school thoroughly checked out as far as its academic standards, faculty, etc. On site inspections of schools is necessary, and it may take some schools years before they meet the criteria necessary to be accredited. Even after having received accreditation, it may be revoked if the school fails to maintain accreditation standards.
Accrediting mills that mention being used by a few metaphysical schools as well as by some in alternative health fields, require only filling out a simple form and mailing in less than $300.00 to the operator of the mills. Obviously, it’s no way going to be recognized as a legitimate accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education.
To check on the legitimacy of any organization claiming to be an accrediting agency, contact the U.S. Department of Education at
http://www.ed.gov or at
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202
Phone: 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327)
Be Internet Savvy!The internet can be a wonderful place to learn much or it can be a breeding ground for falsehoods, misrepresentations, and impersonations.
In recent years a few unscrupulous operators have tried to duplicate the earned success of the University of Metaphysics through the internet to make their listings appear as though they are the real University of Metaphysics---even going so far as to headline their listings with the name University of Metaphysics. Others have added a name either before or after the words University of Metaphysics. Others, using the name University of Metaphysics in their listings, have created web sites so they can sell advertising by capitalizing on the earned reputation of the University of Metaphysics. Needless to say, the I.M.M.’s legal counsel, now numbering many attorneys, has had a good amount of activity in dealing with going after misrepresentations. So—be internet savvy by checking with our Administration Department before accepting on face value, that any listing or paid ad has any real connection to either the University of Metaphysics or the University of Sedona.