Academic Institute refutes claims they are a ‘diploma mill’

The Academic Institute, a small self-described 'educational consulting company' for middle school and high school aged students, released a statement on Monday, Aug. 24 refuting claims made in a recent Seattle Times article that the school acted as a "diploma mill" for Bellevue High School football players.

The Academic Institute, a small self-described ‘educational consulting company’ for middle school and high school aged students, released a statement on Monday, Aug. 24 refuting claims made in a recent Seattle Times article that the school acted as a “diploma mill” for Bellevue High School football players.

The following is the statement released by the school to the media:

Since 1980, The Academic Institute, Inc., an accredited school in Bellevue, Washington, has helped hundreds of both “traditional” students and those with learning challenges fulfill their dreams and flourish.

A recent report in a daily newspaper contained several incorrect statements, creating doubt about the school’s credentials and reputation, according to school director Jennifer Vice. “Contrary to what was reported, athletes are a very small percentage of the students we serve, and they receive no special privileges,” she emphasized.

The Academic Institute also refuted other comments from the newspaper report, particularly relating to its academic standards, including:

  • A description of the school (by a teacher who worked there for four months) as “a diploma mill.”  Vice emphasized the Academic Institute is held to the same standards as other accredited schools, noting her school is accredited by AdvancEd, Colleges and Universities and approved by  OSPI (Office Superintendent of Public Instruction).  It is also an approved NPA (NonPublic Agency), a credentialed resource to help public schools meet requirements to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to eligible special education students, aged 3–21.
  • Scholarship students include both athletes (from various sports) and non-athletes. Approximately one of every five students (20 percent) receive some financial assistance. An estimate 17 students of the hundreds served have been high school football players.
  • No one outside The Academic Institute coordinates or decides financial aid to students. Scholarships are based on need.
  • Classes are always staffed with instructors.
  • Students who qualify for special accommodations (as determined by a psychologist)
  • may use a note card on some exams.
  • Attendance is monitored and tracked daily, and parents are notified when a student is absent. Students who exceed a threshold for unexcused absences may be expelled.
  • Only the principal (school director) and executive director can input grades. Parents or other volunteers cannot alter grades.

“Since our inception as a tutoring agency, we have evolved into a full-service educational institution whose focus is to prepare students for post-secondary school success, whether in college or in other endeavors,” Vice stated.  “We are proud of our record of helping students develop a love of learning, a sense of capability, and the confidence for self-advocacy,” she added.

In conclusion: At this time, The Academic Institute has no additional response to the August 23 newspaper report, but thanks our students, parents and alumni for their votes of confidence, both in recent calls and emails, as well as by their testimonials on the website.