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[gcaye]

What if I teach or work at an American style university overseas that is in the process of seeking US accreditation but does not yet have it?

Will I be stigmatized in future job applications?

The country it's in is directly related to my overall research, though, which would make me choosing it a reasonable thing for geography's sake.

Thank you.

[zharkov]

Getting a PhD in Elbonian Studies while teaching at the University of West Central Elbonia sounds fine.  Even if unaccredited in the US, it trumps not teaching at all.

[larryc]

AFTDJA.

[gcaye]

LOL. TY. I will.

[q8prof]

I don't speak text-ese so I don't know what the last two replies are talking about but I can respond to the initial question.  I work at an American-style university in the Arabian Gulf which is in the process of applying for accreditation.  The university is accredited by the Ministry of Education of the host country and that is what is really needed.  There are countless respected, even prestigious, institutions around the world who do not have or seek accreditation in the US.  Because American-style institutions are branding themselves as "American" most students and parents of students would like to see that stamp of approval from the US.  Not yet having it though has not stopped us from placing students in well respected graduate programs in the US and UK.

I do not think the accreditation issue will make or break a person's job search when they choose to go back to the US.  What is far more important is the research you do while here.  If you are able to capitalize on the experience by doing original research that you could not do in the US, this trumps the accreditation issue by far.

[shamu]

Getting a PhD in Elbonian Studies while teaching at the University of West Central Elbonia sounds fine.  Even if unaccredited in the US, it trumps not teaching at all.

Chime. If you are productive and have the right qualifications for your next job, where you are may not be a big issue. Accumulate the kinds of experiences you need, and make sure you can do that at your job (teaching, grants, pubs, etc. in the combination you need for your dream job). Who know, maybe your dream job will turn out to be the one to which you are applying.

Good luck!

[gcaye]

Thank you, everyone!

[q8prof]

There's a rare display of positivity relating to this experience!  Bravo!

[totoro]

I would never think about whether some university had a US accreditation or not. What it's local and global reputation is is what matters. But maybe at some US universities they do take this into account? For example, Australian universities are self-accrediting but the government has approved of them using the title university so in a sense it is the Australian government that is the accreditor. All those universities give decent education but the amount of international reputation they have differs radically. Saying you taught at Southern Cross University (http://www.scu.edu.au/) might not get you far in the US (but would matter less than saying you had a PhD from them). Saying you taught at University of Melbourne would garner you more credit, at least with US colleges with an international perspective.

[mbonner]

In my experience, faculty have an easier time of moving on past un-accredited schools than students do.

However, be careful when they say that they are in the process of accreditation.  I think just about every international school makes this claim.  Even those who are qualified can see the process take YEARS.