Has anyone ever gotten a nasty gut feeling?

Discussion in 'Accreditation Discussions (RA, DETC, state approva' started by apageor2, May 26, 2011.

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  1. apageor2

    apageor2 Member

    Let me explain, over the course of the past two terms I started to ask questions on what is happening with my current choice of DBA colleges. I'm not sure what it is but I keep getting this really bad feeling in my gut and it's not going away. :ponder:

    I made a phone call yesterday and spoke with someone at another college who I then asked some hypothetical questions to. She was quite helpful regarding the answers and gave me a lot of things to think about and consider. One of the questions which I asked about was regarding the residency. [i.e. had she ever heard of an online college that did the DBA or PhD who did not offer the residency to their students] The reason I asked was because I have gone through a series of courses at this college yet I have not been given any type of notice regarding a residency so I have to wonder, what's up and why not? It almost makes me think there's more to the college than others are not aware of.

    Now I could be wrong here and I hope I am for the thousands of other students who are taking their studies at this facility but that doesn't answer my current question. What makes it worse is when I ask questions regarding financial issues it takes someone 4 or 5 days to respond to me and the response that I get is so dense it can be cut with a knife. I have reached a point I don't even ask anymore, I go elsewhere to find answers and that is usually to ask other students from other facilities.

    So now I am really starting to raise my eyebrow on the facility location and wonder what is going on and what is this current degree going to be worth in the end?

    If someone has a thought or two they would like to share on this matter I would greatly appreciate it. Before anyone starts giving me a hard time for not checking out a university before filling out the paperwork - I did a background check on them and the university seemed total legit and there wasn't anything to be concerned with. Every thing seemed fine but the more I've been reading, they are having financial issues and taking funds they shouldn't.

    Am I concerned for no reason? :dunno:

    Thanks in advance for your thoughts. I am really having a tough time on this issue so I need some guidance.
     
  2. truckie270

    truckie270 New Member

    Yes - I got the same feeling about the school I was at prior to transferring to Valdosta State. The school was going through a lot changes. Faculty would suddenly be gone from the school during the middle of a course and all traces of them having worked there would be erased. I had my advisor changed several times in several months. There were sudden and unexpected changes in leadership. Tuition and fees were being raised almost monthly.

    I decided to go with my gut and leave. I ended up losing a few credits in transfer, but I left before I got to the dissertation and comp. exam. phases. I did end up getting an MBA awarded, so it was not a total loss even though I cannot call it a true MBA.
     
  3. apageor2

    apageor2 Member

    The issue I'm having now is very similar to what you're expressing however what I am going for is at a DBA level so yes there is a lot of funding at stake and I am a nervous wreck at this point with all the changes. Especially with this current class. There are only four students in the class and this instructor is rarely there and what makes it worse is she doesn't seem like she has a care in the world about teaching it let alone being present. I would actually like to learn the class but I'm not sure who else to turn to. I stated this matter to my advisor but I am unsure who else to turn to at this point?
     
  4. truckie270

    truckie270 New Member

    I was also in a DBA program. I left before I got to the comprehensive exam and dissertation phase and was awarded an MBA. I transferred into a DPA program.
     
  5. Garp

    Garp Well-Known Member

    If you don't mind me asking, are you the person who once said you earned a degree from Northcentral University but decided not to list it due to the low quality of the program (or something similar)? In any case, you certainly have a lot of degrees (not near the record but doing very well. I know some people get education in their blood stream. I am always amazed when I see people with two or three accredited doctorates).
     
  6. truckie270

    truckie270 New Member

    I usually do not list it unless there is a specific need for it in the position I am applying for. My decision to not list NCU does not have anything to do with the quality of the program, it has more to do with two other reasons:

    1) I do not really consider my degree to be an MBA since it did not require a majority of the coursework that you would find in the traditional MBA program
    2) I have made a personal decision to use only my credentials that were gained from non-profit, B&M state schools. This does not reflect my personal opinion of for-profit institutions and the quality of their instruction. It is a reflection of my method of dealing with biases against FP schools in the professional circles I am associated with.
     
  7. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    I understand and agree with this approach. If I was applying for a corporate position I would not list all I have for reasons outlined in your point #2. The resume would be simple:

    Education
    •BS in Individual Studies – Charter Oak State College
    •MS-IT Management – Touro University International
    •Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Risk Management - University of Florida

    Continuing Education
    •Creating a Culture of Accountability – St Petersburg College
    •Lean Six Sigma – University of South Florida

    When I apply for teaching positions I only have my NCU PhD to add. Oh well, maybe one day I will get a Nova DBA to 'replace' the PhD. :confused:
     
  8. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    You actually would consider another doctorate? I'm not sure if I should commend you or ridicule you.
     
  9. Garp

    Garp Well-Known Member

    Randall, there is nothing wrong with your NCU PhD or a U of Phoenix PhD. You have an accredited PhD. Yes, academics are likely to snicker but I think most others are not quite as aware of NCU as they are of U of P and so you are not likely to get the negative (behind your back snickering) that people get with U of P doctorate. You worked hard for it and it is accredited.

    It does bring up an interesting point. A lot of people who earn doctorates (non Bricks & Mortar) do so for personal fulfillment. Yet, does having a doctorate and applying for positions that does not require one, hurt prospects? Is there a general prejudice that PhD's are not practically oriented enough or are just looking for a job to hold them over till something opens up in academia? I have head comments like that.

    On the other hand, I also read in US News & World Report Graduate edition how more corporations were hiring doctorates for a couple of reasons. As best I can recall those reasons were that people with doctorates had insight and research skills that can be applied to the corporate world and the tenacity involved in earning a doctorate was also something valuable.
     
  10. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    LOL - probably not unless it was free!
     
  11. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    I would be on the fence about it. Let's hope I never have to find out! I have been with my current employer 11 years and plan to be with them 20 more.
     
  12. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    By the way - a bit a good news. I was promoted from Senior Manager to Director. When my boss, the Executive Director, was writing the announcement he said he wanted to be sure to list my PhD to illustrate the higher education I have obtained and the ability to conduct research on important business topics (ones that are assigned to me such as white papers that will be reported to the parent company in Japan). Sorry to hijack this thread.
     
  13. edowave

    edowave Active Member

    I think so. I have had more than a few recruiters tell me straight out, "We do not hire anyone with a doctorate." When looking for worked, I didn't list my PhD unless the job announcement mentions or requires it.

    BTW, Great news Randell. Congrats!
     
  14. apageor2

    apageor2 Member

    Wrong person Garp. I've never attended NCU. I attended NAU for my undergraduate and my MBA. =) I moved on in hopes it would help me achieve something one step up when it came to teaching. I am still not having any luck obtaining distant learning online teaching jobs which is frustrating. I had hoped something would show after obtaining the MBA but I don't know if the economy had something to do with it or not so the only thing I could do at the time was keep moving forward which I'm doing and hoping that the achievement of the DBA will be enough because as of right now that's all I can do to stay afloat while I am still seeking for work. Thank you NObama.. grrr.
     
  15. AUTiger00

    AUTiger00 New Member

    It may just be the area of business you're looking to work in. If there are an abundance of qualified applicants with teachiggexperience youreprobably losing out to them for the jo s.

    After reviewing my grad school transcripts I have 12 hours in the area of finance. I can take two electives outside of higher Ed in my current program so plan to take two finance courses at HBS in an attempt to qualify for some adjunct positions next year. That area is in high demand so hopefully the 18 grad hours will be enough to get me something.

    Sorry for your struggles, but is the investment in theDBA worth it just for some low paying adjunct jobs?
     
  16. Garp

    Garp Well-Known Member

    Congratulations Randell!!!
     

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