SHAPE Malaysia September 2009 Issue - Ask The Trainer section

Grab your September 2009 copy from the nearest news stand today!

An Internal Letter for ISSA staff from Dr. Arria - RE: www.ISSAonline.edu domain

Good afternoon!

It's OFFICIAL!!! www.ISSAonline.edu

I'm very proud to announce that the ISSA has been granted the restricted privilege of using a .EDU domain name. The ISSA has again led the industry by becoming the first and only fitness organization to be granted this privilege.

As you'll see below, there are mandatory federal regulations for schools, organizations and colleges to use a .EDU domain. No other fitness organization can use a .edu domain because they’re accreditation is not recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

All ISSA members can be proud that our institution has met the most rigorous accreditation standards established by the DETC. Because of this prestigious accreditation, we have bee granted the privilege to use a .edu domain, just like other truly nationally accredited organizations, schools, colleges and universities.

To remain at the forefront of an industry, a company must truly lead...and for 20 years we have!

I'd like to thank each of you for your dedication and commitment to our fine organization as we remain, "The World Leader In Fitness Education & Certification."

Congratulations!

Sal -- Dr. Sal Arria CEO, Co-Founder ISSA International Sports Sciences Association www.FitnessEducation.com

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What is the .EDU domain?

The .edu domain is one of the seven original top-level subdivisions of the Internet Domain Name System (DNS). The .edu domain is intended for accredited post-secondary educational U.S. institutions. It is managed under the authority of the United States Department of Commerce.

What are the eligibility requirements for obtaining a name in the .EDU domain?

Only postsecondary institutions that are institutionally accredited by an agency on the U.S. Department of Education's list of Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies (see recognized accrediting bodies) may obtain an Internet name in the .edu domain. These include both "Regional Institutional Accrediting Agencies" and "National Institutional and Specialized Accrediting Bodies" recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Note that institutional accreditation is required for .edu eligibility; program accreditation is not sufficient. Not all agencies accredit institutions. Some accredit only institutions, some accredit only programs, and others accredit both institutions and programs.

The U.S. Department of Education's list of Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies and State Agencies are the only official comprehensive lists of agencies.

Internal Letter sent from Dr. Sal Arria to the ISSA staff - RE: DETC Accreditation

Today marks a monumental event for the entire fitness profession. This time, the ISSA truly raised the bar for the fitness industry by becoming the first fitness organization in the United States to have earned accreditation through the distinguished Accreditation Commission of the DETC.

The Accrediting Commission of the DETC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency, and is a recognized member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

For the ISSA to earn this prestigious national accreditation, unlike any fitness organization in the United States, the ISSA passed rigorous onsite evaluations by DETC examiners. In addition to passing an institutional evaluation, ISSA's educational programs were subjected to the scrutiny of peer review by independent, third party examiners and passed with stellar grades.

The ISSA is also very proud to announce that we are the only fitness organization in the U.S. that has earned the right to register and utilize a .EDU domain. No other fitness organization has earned this respected honor.

Eligibility for a .edu domain name is limited to U.S. postsecondary institutions that are institutionally accredited, i.e., the entire institution and not just particular programs, by agencies on the U.S. Department of Education's list of Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies. These include both "Regional Institutional Accrediting Agencies" and "National Institutional and Specialized Accrediting Bodies" recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

The only accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education are listed below.

http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/accreditation_pg7.html

You won't find NCCA on this list. They aren't authorized by the U.S. Department of Education to grant accreditation.

The ISSA chose to pursue and meet the DETC's difficult standards for accreditation because the Commission is dedicated to fostering quality assurance, protection of the rights of the students and institutional self-improvement through voluntary accreditation via peer evaluation. DETC accreditation aims to instill public confidence in DETC institutions' missions, goals, performances, and resources through rigorous application and peer-developed accreditation standards.

I'm very proud to celebrate with each of you today and from here out, as we continue to provide high quality education, excellent student service and constantly strive to help each of our students and professional members succeed.

This is a monumental occasion for the fitness industry, for the fitness profession, for all ISSA Professional members. I thank you, the incredible staff and professors of the ISSA, for helping us prove yet AGAIN, that the ISSA is truly the World Leader In Fitness Education and Certification!!

Very sincerely,
Sal