Greenwich University (Norfolk Island)

Greenwich University was a controversial distance learning institution, originally founded in 1972 in Missouri (at this time, it was known as the International Institute for Advanced Studies), in operation from 1990 to 2003 in Hawaii—1998 to 2003 under different ownership—and from 1998 to 2002 in Norfolk Island, Australia. It has never been recognized by an accrediting body of the federal Department of Education in the United States and was recognized only for a short time by the state of Queensland, Australia. In 2000, the Norfolk Island school was called a degree mill by the Sydney Morning Herald, and in 2002, legislation was passed by then Education Minister Brendan Nelson to prevent further operation.

According to the then Australian Federal Government Department of Education, Science and Training, "Between 30 June 1998 and 2 December 2002, Greenwich University (Norfolk Island) degrees were lawfully awarded under legislation approved by the Norfolk Island Government, using its powers of self-government. While the Commonwealth Minister for Territories assented to legislation, this does not mean that Greenwich University awards were ever recognized by the Federal Government of Australia." In January 1999, the university requested accreditation under the Australian Qualifications Framework. In response, the then Australian government set up a review committee to investigate the suitability of Greenwich University for accreditation. The committee returned recommendations that Greenwich University:

"not be listed on the registers of the Australian Qualifications Framework because the standard of its courses, quality assurance mechanisms, and (sic) its academic leadership fail to meet the standards expected of Australian universities."

On 2 December 2002, the Federal Government enacted legislation to regulate the use of the title university and the delivery of higher education in Australia's external Territories. This legislation overrode the operation of the Greenwich University Act 1998 (Norfolk Island). From this date, the Act is of no effect.

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