Degree to nowhere
JCU graduates in limbo with no course accreditation
A FURIOUS Townsville financial services firm partner has called on James Cook University to compensate students who undertook a degree that was not approved.
JCU said students were advised the course was not accredited when they started it and that they were working with the standards body to have it accredited.
It remained unclear whether the accreditation could be applied retrospectively.
My Fortress Townsville, which provided financial advice, accounting and finance broking services and employed about 20 JCU graduates as well as funded an annual scholarship, said the situation was unacceptable. “As a local business which employs five or more JCU graduates every year we feel betrayed,” My Fortress partner Ian Bowrey said.
“I think there should be some forgiveness on the (course) fees that have been paid in lieu of (lost) career earnings.
“I think there should be a full apology to students and a commitment to work with local businesses who are offering help in future.”
Students started studying for the new financial advising major in the Bachelor of Business degree in 2019 and graduated in March this year.
But the university’s College of Business, Law and Governance only submitted an application for the course to standards body Financial Advisors Standards and Ethics Authority on October 15 this year.
The college’s dean, Professor Stephen Boyle, told students in an email on May 14 that a staff member was unable to complete a submission for the accreditation due to illness but that a new academic had been appointed in January to complete it.
One graduate, now employed by My Fortress but unable to begin her professional year training, Andi Gelling said students were somewhat confused when the issue surfaced in 2020.
“Hearing your course isn’t accredited and being in it for 18 months can be quite a shock,” Ms Gelling said.
She said the issue had not been raised with students and surfaced when one student noticed JCU did not appear on FASEA’S website list of approved institutions.
But in a statement a JCU spokesman said students were advised the course was not accredited when they entered it.
“That status was again confirmed with students last year and students were provided with an update on the accreditation process,” the spokesman said.
“The course was offered on the basis that JCU would work to secure accreditation, not that accreditation had been secured.”
The spokesman said JCU was working with FASEA on the matter.
“The university has made a submission to FASEA for accreditation and JCU is waiting on a response from the authority,” the spokesman said.
“JCU has been in contact with affected students and provided them with updates throughout the accreditation process.
“JCU will continue to communicate directly with affected students to resolve this issue and minimise the impact on students. It will continue to provide support to current and former students of this course, and has offered to contact any employers and will make contact if asked to do so by students.
“JCU appreciates both FASEA’S guidance through this process and the patience of affected students.”