CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - A bill that has cleared a legislative committee would give colleges and universities five years to get accredited or be on their way to accreditation - or get out of the state.

The measure is opposed by Preston University in Cheyenne, which has just a few students in Wyoming and thousands at affiliated campuses around the world.

"Accreditation is not the be-all and end-all in quality education," Preston President Jerry Haenisch told Joint Education Committee on Wednesday. He said there are no agencies to accredit an operation that has multiple campuses worldwide.

Wyoming doesn't currently require federally recognized accreditation for a school to be state-licensed, and the state has at least 10 nonaccredited, mainly online schools that cater mainly to overseas students. The proliferation of schools has caused Wyoming to be known as a haven for diploma mills, which provide degrees for little or no academic achievement.

The bill is supported by State Superintendent Jim McBride, who asked rhetorically why Wyoming is home to so many schools.

"Because the law allows it," he said. "Why the United States? Because they want to issue a diploma that says from the U.S. That's what it's about. Let's cut to it."

Haenisch said the state's existing regulations could have prevented some schools from opening. "It seems to me that the Department of Education could preclude any type of shady school from operating," he said.

McBride said accreditation would do that.

"Every single school district is NCA- (North Central Association) accredited. Every single community college is NCA-accredited. The university is NCA-accredited. So there must be some logic," he said.

The draft bill is scheduled to go back to the Joint Interim Education Committee and the Select Committee on School Finance on Dec. 6-7 in Cheyenne.

Information from: Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, http://www.wyomingnews.com