Clayton College of Natural Health

The Clayton College of Natural Health was a non-accredited American distance-learning college based in Birmingham, Alabama, offering classes in various forms of alternative medicine. The school was founded in 1980 by Lloyd Clayton Jr. as the American College of Holistic Nutrition.[1] According to its website, the school at one point had more than 25,000 students and graduates.[2] The school and some of its more notable graduates have been the subject of controversy.

Not to be confused with Clayton State University (formerly Clayton College and State University), a public university in Morrow, Georgia.
Clayton College of Natural Health
TypePrivate, distance education
Active1980–2010
PresidentLloyd E. Clayton Jr.
Location
Birmingham
,
Alabama
,
United States

History and accreditation

The American College of Holistic Nutrition was founded in 1980 by Lloyd Clayton Jr. In 1997, its name was changed to Clayton College of Natural Health.[1]

Clayton College of Natural Health never held educational accreditation from any agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.[3] Several state education agencies specifically list Clayton as unaccredited, among them Oregon, Texas, and Maine.[4]

Closure and lawsuit

In July 2010, the college announced on its website that it was ceasing operations, blaming a number of factors but primarily the effects of the contemporary economic recession.[5] In November 2010, a class action lawsuit was filed seeking recoveries on behalf of thousands of students who were enrolled in prepaid distance education programs at Clayton College.[6] The lawsuit claims Clayton breached its fiduciary duty, was negligent, among other claims, and seeks compensation for the tuition amounts paid for programs that are no longer available. They are also seeking compensation for Plaintiffs’ "loss of time and opportunity", among other damages.[7]

In November 2011 it was announced that as many as 14,000 former students of the defunct Clayton College of Natural Health would split up to $2.31 million in reimbursement for tuition, with part of the settlement to be paid by Lloyd Clayton Jr. and the remainder being paid for by RSUI Indemnity Co. The funds were to be placed in an escrow account for which former students could recover a portion of their lost tuition.[8][9]

Programs

Clayton offered five degree programs and seven certificate programs.[10] The degree programs included Bachelors and Masters of Science in Natural Health, Bachelor and Masters of Science in Holistic Nutrition, Doctor of Education in Holistic Health and Wellness, and Doctor of Naturopathy. Certificates were offered in Iridology, Herbalism, Companion Animal Studies, Practitioner Education Studies, and Natural Wellness Studies. No clinical training was provided.

Notable alumni

Well-known graduates include television nutrition personality Gillian McKeith,[11] naturopath Hulda Regehr Clark, author Robert O. Young, philanthropist and Anaheim Ducks co-owner Susan Samueli,[12] nutritionist and author Lyn-Genet Recitas, and author Kim Barnouin, co-author of the diet book, Skinny Bitch.[13] McKeith's credentials from Clayton have been the focus of comment in The Guardian's "Bad Science" column, specifically the institution's unaccredited status and the institution's refusal to make McKeith's doctoral dissertation available for outside review.[14][15]

References
  1. Shabi, Rachel (January 8, 2005). "Food fighters". The Guardian. London.
  2. Clayton College of Natural Health website top page, as archived on 26 July 2008.
  3. U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs Archived 2007-03-16 at the Wayback Machine and Database of Institutions and Programs Accredited by Recognized United States Accrediting Organizations Archived 2012-04-20 at the Wayback Machine, searched November 25, 2007.
  4. State accreditation database results include the following, verified 16 January 2009:
  5. Lange, Andrew (November 17, 2011). "The biggest quack school in natural medicine closes". Huffington Post.
  6. CCNH Lawsuit
  7. Class Action Complaint - US District Court - Filed 11/05/10 Archived 2011-11-25 at the Wayback Machine
  8. "Former Clayton College students to get up to $2.31 million, tuition discounts". 19 November 2011.
  9. http://www.ccnhclassaction.com/2012-05-25-Final-Order.pdf
  10. "Clayton College of Natural Health Educational Programs". Archived from the original on 2009-04-05. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
  11. Goldacre, Ben (February 3, 2007). "The Internal Examiner". The Guardian.
  12. url = "Susan Samueli PhD | samueliinstitute.org". Archived from the original on 2013-07-28. Retrieved 2015-03-19.
  13. Rogers, John (August 22, 2007). "'Skinny Bitch' Diet Book Gains Fans". FoxNews.
  14. Gibson, Owen (February 12, 2007). "TV dietician to stop using title Dr in adverts". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
  15. Goldacre, Ben (February 12, 2007). "Ms Gillian McKeith – Banned From Calling Herself A Doctor!". The Guardian.
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