KWU and programs

"Or that it asks its undergraduate students to complete 5-9 "courses" to get a degree (plus a paper)? Or that it doesn't offer courses, just open-book exams? Or that it offers doctorates that can be earned in 9 months? Or that it awards life-experience graduate credit (unusual in itself) without verifying said experience? Or that it is routinely called a degree (or diploma) mill in the press?"


In my research on dl and substandard/standard education issues, I have found there are several regionally accredited colleges that give life experience credits towards a degree and only requires the completion of a final examination of courses for credits in earning a degree. These schools are Thomas Edison, Charter Oaks and Excelsior. Two of these schools are what I would classify as parasitic schools using courses from many universities and consolidating these credits under their system to award degrees. THere is no specific program or department for the students to matriculate through. I have the information in hand. Not hear say but actual information from these schools. Write down your experiences in specific areas, get a course catalog from several colleges and universities, browse through, pick a course or courses that match your life experiences (work, hobbies, etc), state why you meet the course objectives as described in the course descriptions and get college credit. An enclosed flyer from Excelsior states, "earn 3 or more college credits in one afternoon." ????? I know that Excelsior is now offering online courses, but still is not up to the other regionally accredited schools programs in my opinion.

Can't judge KWU when regionally accredited colleges do pretty much the same thing. And Union I U' doctorate programs are under the microscope right now. Goes to show you there are holes in the US education process.

And...Most State operated colleges and universities are operated as businesses. This especially applies to the "big atheletics" schools, such as UNC CH where I am enrolled. The games bring in big bucks. ...and as far as quality education...have you ever actually listened to most of the ball players speak in public? Damned, how did some of them get through basic english 101

 

What does that have to do with K-WU issing degrees without requiring students to earn them? Because some students at state schools don't rise to your standards, that justifies what K-WU does?

 

KWU

Rich:

I will put KWU through the microscope in my research. I have some monies available to go through the application process with randomly chosen schools offering dl programs that are regionally accredited, nationally accredited, state appoved and unaccredited. Hopefully, KWU will be one of those schools. I have been through Columbus U's application process, no basis for verifying vita identified. When quesitons asked, evasive answers given. ??? Will divulge info once the research is concluded.

There are several others I have completed the process with. Have heard back from five, awaiting three others. Next month I will move to phase two and begin the next round of applications. I have found some interesting things.

And for considering all schools parasitic, the answer is "no". Most schools require that a student complete a certain percentage of their degree work through the home school.

Mike

 

Mike 1957,

I am going to defend UNC-Chapel Hill. I took summer courses at UNC-Chapel Hill in the summer of 2002. I was challenged ever step of the way, From my Soviet Union Political Science and Population Geography( Dr John Florin- who was Michael Jordan's senior advisor...yep he is a geography major...and yes he had to WORK for it) to my Racquetball class( in which I got creamed but still loved it), I enjoyed every minute. In my Population Geography class, I had two athletes in my class. Both of them, Matt Wenstrom( who played with the Boston Celtics) and Scott Cherry both had A's in the class. Now I do agree that the sentence structure is horrible and the "you knows" drive me nuts, but UNC-Chapel Hill students are top notch. Just my seven cents.

 

Correction....1992...Sorry

 

Re: KWU

Multiple people have reported the KWU doesn't even bother following their own weak policies. For example, we've gotten multiple reports that KWU accepted people without Master's degrees into their PhD programs. One fellow didn't even have a Bachelor's degree and got accepted into their PhD program. Another example is people being accepted into their programs without the 5 years work experience.

It was reported by an ex-employee of KWU that he never heard of anyone ever being turned down by the "admissions committee". Check out the Senate investigation into degree mills that focused on KWU for more evidence that KWU is a degree mill.

 

Bill

Thanks for the heads up. I haven't really gotten into KWU as of yet. If what you say is factual, that school should be closed down. How in the h... could someone get into a doctorate program without at least a four year degree with the exception of a JD degree.

I'll keep you updated.

Mike

 

Tireman4

Didn't intend to imply all atheletes are uneducated. I know many who are well educated and some exceptionally educated. However, you have to admit that there are quite a few who just don't make the grade. I was not pin pointing UNC as one of those schools that inflate grades for sports purposes. But some of the less known schools do.

As I recall, there was a bit of a stir with the accreditation agencies looking into inflated grades.

Take care

like your handle Tireman4 pretty cool

Mike

 

Thanks,

I used to work for Firestone. I still miss the place. You had to work your tushy off to make a dime and by goodness I did. My best friend has a store and wanted me( still wants me to) to help him turn the store around, but after serious converstions with my wife, we decided the 40 hours work weeks at NASA were better than the stress of the bottom dollar 60 hours weeks at Firestone. I do still miss the stimulation of a sale of four tires and a lifetime alignment. So hence the Tireman nickname. I am a Bridgeston man and always will. They are the best, IMHO. As far as UNC-Chapel Hill, if you ever have the chance, go to the Wilson Library. It used to be the main library until Davis was built in 1983. Go to the Southern Historical Collection. That was the genesis of my research for my thesis. It was sanctuary. The marble of the columns and the majesty of the building was quite touching to me. I used to park on the Highway 54 lot and walk to the library every Tuesday and Thursday to spend 8 hours of research. Goodness those were the days. Anyway, go to the SHC and have a look around. You just might fall in love with the place.

 

Actually, far and away most J.D. programs require a four year degree for entry. The successful applicant with the statutory 90 s.h. is essentially unknown. Well, I know ONE; she started at a CalBAr school with her two or three years of undergrad then the school attained ABA accreditation just before she graduated!

 

Tireman4

Hey guy small world. I have a few friends that work at Firestone?Bridgestone now. I gradauted for ACC in Wilson in 83 and finally completed my MA at ECU. Know the area well. Live in between RM and Wilson. UNC CH is great. I am enjoying my studies there. I went to Duke for a couple of semesters but family issues and the distance travelling there put a halt to that.

Mike Coates

 

Mike 1957,

I have travelled that road many many times. I lived in Durham and travelled to Rocky Mount to go to school. I did this three times a week from 1991-1992. Then after school, I would go to my job at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. I worked at Avis for 11 years. I worked the 4:30 pm to 1 am shift, then I went home and did it all over again. I cant do that now. I tried to do that when I went to A&M (110 miles once a week) and the drive killed me. Boy oh boy. Get this, I made the dean's list in the Spring of 1992 the only time I was full time. Lots of Dr Pepper and insanity....lol. I do miss North Carolina. Especially the snow.

 

Mike,

The difference between a Kenndey-Western and, say a Thomas Edison (or NEIU, the university for which I work), is that the former awards credit for "life experience", which requires little more proof than submitting a resume or vita (which can easily be faked or "enhanced"). The process for awarding credit at RA schools that do so is for "prior learning". This is usually assessed through the successful completion of standardized tests or by portfolio evaluation. In the case of the latter, the candidate identifies course offered by the unversity and then develops a portfolio with tanglible evidence that the candidate is capable of performing the competencies taught by the course. The porfolio is evaluated, usually by a team of faculty in the discipline, including the professor(s) who teach the course being challenged. The faculty team determines whether the portfolio meets the burden of proof and determines the credit award (up to the total number of units for the course).

Needless to say, Kennedy-Western and other non-accredited schools do not undertake anything close to this amount of rigor. There are plenty that would give me a doctorate based upon my vita, with MAYBE a couple of correspondence courses (and of course, the major academic requirement, namely, that the tuition check clears).

Make certain that your research also includes applying to RA graduate schools with the accredited and un accredited degrees and see which will be accepted for transfer. You can also throw in applying for jobs and check the acceptance of the various types of degrees in the world of work. I am eager to read your research when it is completed. It will make for a valuable study.

Tony Pina
Administrator, Northeastern Illinois University

 

KWU

I have heard this about KWU. I will be conducting an indepth analysis of that school's admission process and how the school goes about or not verifying prior learning and awarding credit. If what you and others have said is factual and I will find out, the information will be turned over to the Governmental Affairs committee as well as what I gather on other schools. I have $400 to spend on this part of my research (KWU). I only have $1500 left in my research budget for this project.

I will post the fraudulent schools here on degreeinfo for you all to review. The n = 10. The subject schools were selected randomly from a list of 100 subject schools. This is most interesting research. I thought I was going to dread it at the start but has turned out to be "interesting".

Oh, by the way, someone posted that legit schools don't charge by the year or degree. TESC charges by the year. How a school goes about charging for courses or program completion has no bearing on my research.

And about MU. They are working hard to do the right thing. Go to MadionsU.org. This is the website with the most recent changes. Don't be too hard on a school that is trying to do the right thing. I think it is highly admirable.

 

Re: KWU

Have you read the transcripts for the committe hearing that recently took place wherein KW was a focus? Just one small portion of it goes like this:

Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Claudia Gelzer applied last summer to Kennedy-Western University, an unaccredited school in Thousand Oaks, Calif., that claims in its catalog that 20 agencies have paid for employees’ degrees from the school. Gelzer, who was investigating diploma mills as an aide for the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee when she applied to the school, said the school offered to give her credit toward a master’s in environmental engineering for some professional training courses she had taken.

“Kennedy-Western was prepared to waive six master-level classes in engineering based solely on my claims of professional training,” she said at a May 12 hearing before the committee.

I would imagine there is significant data already out there to establish what it is you are looking for. Read the transcripts of the former employee. Read the details of Cmdr. Gelzer's testimony. I would guess you'll want to do this as a part of the review of the available facts.

 

Re: KWU

KWU only performs an unofficial evaluation for admission. The official evaluation (and verification of credentials) doesn't occur until the student is well into the program. You may want to note that in your analysis. In my case, the official evaluation resulted in me needing to take an additional course.
JimS

 

quote:
posted by JimS
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KWU only performs an unofficial evaluation for admission. The official evaluation (and verification of credentials) doesn't occur until the student is well into the program.
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What a telling tale!

What pure horsecrap and undiluted cow-dung!

Ever heard of a legitimate school that has two admissions per student - one before you are admitted, and another after you are admitted?

Wow!

Thanks.

 

I don't see a problem with having pending verification of credentials.

We are dealing with adult learners after all.

In business world a person may have a job offer that is pending lets say drug screening test.

If I have a copy of my transcript and it serves as temporary document for acceptance but in the final acceptance an official transcript has to be ordered from my school what’s wrong with that?

The issue with KWU is that they make you sign a contract that basically you will have to pay them all the tuition no meter what.
Now this is a deferent story.


I'm not familiar with KWU that well so I cant comment if they simply accept every one and any lies on resume or they do a diligent work and verify that persons credentials.

As far as pre approval noting wrong with that as a business practice.

I have another question how is it that they are listed - advertised among all the other fully accredited schools.

Is it only because they can afford that $$$$?

Learner

 

KWU

I just want to check that the school you are talking about is the school I'm looking into. Is Kennedy-Western University, claiming a location in Cheyenne, Washington the school that is possibly a diploma mill? Please let me know. Thank you.

 

Re: Re: KWU

Do you know where I can find documentation about this Senate investigation?