The World Association of Universities and Colleges (WAUC) is an institutional educational accreditation body not recognized by the United States Department of Education. It is run by Maxine Asher, director of the American World University, an unaccredited school. WAUC's website claims that "laws in the U.S.A. prohibit the recognition of global accreditation associations". History According to Maxine Asher's American World University, World Association of Universities and Colleges was started in 1992. In March 2001, WAUC was reported to be using an executive suite in Henderson, Nevada as its address. In 2004, Asher was forced to close down the World University of Iowa, a Hawaii-based institution similar to American World University and accredited by World Association of Universities and Colleges. As part of a summary judgement, she was ordered to cease operations, refund tuition money to all students, and pay $240,000 in damages. The action came as part of a statewide crackdown on unaccredited schools, as many had relocated there after 1999 in an effort to evade regulation in the mainland United States. During court proceedings, Asher refused to provide school documentation such as a list of students. In June 2007, the organization's website listed an address in Beverly Hills, California and WAUC listed 57 accredited schools and 28 nonaccredited "members only" schools. In 2010, it offered accreditation for limited time offer at $500. As of September 2011, WAUC's website was offline. In 2012, the World Association of Universities and Colleges claims "a membership of forty universities, with dozens of other worthy institutions in the process of application.". Schools listed as "accredited" by WAUC As of 2008, WAUC listed the following as accredited members: Abbot Institute of Modern Sciences (United Kingdom) Alhuraa University (Netherlands; operated by Iraqi academics living outside of Iraq) American Global University School of Medicine American International University of Learning American International University of Management and Technology American Middle East University American Northeastate University American University of London American World University Arab Open Academy in Denmark Atlantic National University Barron University Bolton International University Buckingham College (United Kingdom) California University of Management Science Cambridge International University (Spain) Cambridge State University Central School of Professional Studies City School of Commerce and Technology (United Kingdom) City University (located in Pacific time zone; not to confused with the City University of Hong Kong, London, New York, or Seattle) College of Applied Sciences (United Kingdom) College of Management and Technology (United Kingdom)