Ryokan College

11/16/2018

Press Release (1st Edit)

Ryokan College, a non-profit higher-educational institution established in 1978 and uniquely dedicated to the needs of adult learners, has had to close its doors after graduating almost 1,400 graduates.

Most of our graduates became licensed Marriage Family Therapists or Psychologists in California. At an average of treating 25 clients a week, our graduates probably provide 1.5 million mental health visits per year. The average age of the Ryokan Student was 44 years old and 60% were female who chose Ryokan College because of its practicing clinicians as instructors and 1/4 tuition of most universities.

Unfortunately, in 2015, the legislature, yielding to political and monied pressures, dealt a death blow to the College and like institutions, making it nearly impossible for places such as Ryokan to continue to give adult learners, many of whom are parents or those pursuing a second career, the opportunity to pursue what was clearly a more affordable and qualitatively comparable graduate education, by forcing smaller, less funded institutions to either become accredited or to cease to operate, even though State law had permitted us to to so for decades—without a single serious complaint against us! As a result, the College’s enrollment and financial viability immediately plummeted.

In 2017, the California Board of Psychology demanded regional accreditation for all institutions whose graduates sought licensure as psychologists. Ryokan College filed suit against the Board, seeking injunctive relief, but these actions were simply not enough to sustain our viability as a school, to pay our bills and our faculty and staff, while carrying a growing and eventually impossible to manage debt. As a consequence of all of the above, and seeing no benefactor or other remedies to resolve our plight, Ryokan College is now forced to close and declare bankruptcy.

The College thanks all those who have come through our doors and, especially, all who have, through their careers, given generously to us to further our cause.

For more information please contact:

06/13/2018

Fixing the droughts around the US. "The United States has the largest network of energy pipelines in the world, with more than 2.4 million miles of pipe. The network of crude oil pipelines in the U.S. is extensive. There are approximately 72,000 miles of crude oil lines in the U.S. that connect regional market."

If we can move oil around the United States, why can't we move water?

04/29/2018

While the state of California has no training requirements for mediators, the mediation community--and many professional organizations--have informal education requirements. Aspiring mediators can learn much about the profession through a 40-hour training program. While many mediators come from the legal, social work or counseling fields, there is no particular professional background necessary to enter the mediator profession. Good listening skills, patience, creative problem-solving and a strong will are traits characteristic of a successful mediator.

Ryokan College is preparing a 4 week 40 hour (includes weekly 2 hour interactive lecture, taped role playing episodes, and Message Board Assignments) mediation course. Topics will cover an overview of family law, lectures, reading assignments and role playing. Mediators typically charge $250-450 per hour so course cost is a down payment on opening an additional career.
• Tuition is $1,500.
• Textbook cost $70
A $1,00 deposit is required on May 15 and $500 on June 15.

If you are interested, please contact me.

Steve Arthur, Ed.D.
President
Ryokan College
[email protected]
11965 Venice Blvd., #304
Los Angeles, CA 90066
T: 310 390-7560
F: 310 391-9756
Skype: steve.arthur56

09/27/2017

You can view our confrontation with the Board of Psychology at

Ryokan College meeting with the Board of Psychology 5-19-2016 Speakers: Steve Arthur, Ed.D Donald Burris

09/27/2017

In Los Angeles, the U.S capital for schools that graduate therapists and psychologists, the California Board of Psychology is trying to unfairly close down local schools that have given multi-cultural and immigrant students a fair shot at a low-cost education, serving communities that have been otherwise underserved. One of those schools, Ryokan College, is fighting back with a lawsuit. Students are up in arms! (September 26, 2017)

Ryokan College has filed a lawsuit against the California Board of Psychology to fight what the school considers an unconstitutional requirement that all graduates for licensing be from regionally accredited schools beginning 12/31/2019. The basis of the lawsuit lies in the lack of knowledge by the Board about the accreditation process which takes far more time than the Board proposed in their regulation. The Board likely did not consult regional accreditors, nor have they ever supported the student profile served by Ryokan College (average 44 year-old student who cannot afford a high tuition). The Board never consulted Ryokan College about their regulation which is why a lawsuit was required.

Steve Arthur, President of Ryokan College, has filed a law suit against the Board. “By creating a sudden and arbitrary deadline for schools to become regionally accredited (when the process takes multiple years to accomplish) the Board is forcing beloved schools to lose their ability to serve these students, and, in turn, underserved communities needing mental health professionals. Steve Arthur further explains the urgency and necessity for this action, “They are also not giving students the ability to complete Masters and Doctorate requirements that take multiple years to finish. We are speaking up and our students and graduates are ready to protest and fight.”

This story must be told.

For Further information please call Terry Arthur at Ryokan College, to set up an interview with Steve Arthur, and protesting students and graduates.
(mobile) 310-709-3458
Email: [email protected]

Ryokan College, An Education Leader Founded in 1978, Ryokan College is a private, nonprofit, coeducational institution of higher learning that offers Bachelor of Arts in Human Behavior, Master of Arts in Psychology or Counseling Psychology (for MFT licensure in California) and Doctor of Psychology i...

03/23/2017

2nd Graduation Video 2014

03/23/2017

1st Graduation Video

03/23/2017

Online Education for Psychology

09/28/2015

Intellectual freedom, the ability to discuss anything openly, is what enlightens the world. Now students’ demands to stifle that freedom put higher education’s mission at risk.

06/24/2015

APA report offers recommendations for reducing gun violence nationwide.

This report reviews research-based evidence on causes of gun violence, whether it is homicide, su***de or a school shooting. How do mental health and mental illness affect prediction of gun violence? What can be done at the individual and community level to prevent gun violence?

09/25/2014

We are very proud of Ryokan Graduate, Dr. Lena Axelsson, who co-authored the book with Dr. Gordon Wheeler. "Gestalt Therapy" is now listed on the APA website and available for purchase.

This book provides an introduction to the theory, historical evolution, research, and practice of Gestalt therapy, an approach that inspires an active, present-focused, relational stance on the part of the therapist.

08/11/2014

CALLING ALL SIGNATURES!

As you may know, Ryokan College is in the midst of going for NATIONAL ACCREDITATION. It's still a year away, but our good friends in Sacramento (the legislators) have come up with another way to harm us and the 159 unaccredited, State Approved schools in California.

We now propose an amendment to SB 1247 that would meet their standards and allow small schools to exist. We wrote that solution into a Petition that will be immediately sent to State Senator Lieu's email address. Please join us in signing the petition and voicing your support for small specialty schools like Ryokan College that provide low tuition, convenient schedules for the working adult, excellent education, and special subjects!

We agree that it is important to have regular evaluations of academic quality, but existing accrediting agencies, both national and regional, by...