Cal State Approved Grads Work Harder

My theory: Cal. state approved graduate degree holders work harder in their professions because the degree can be controversial. As a result, the holder's performance must counterbalance any objections based on traditional education.

I think a parallel to this phenomena can be drawn in WWII. The "Tuskegee Airmen" P51 pilots received a level of institutional bigotry based on preconceived notions related to race. These pilots were basically locked out of the traditional club and that fact was used to further denigrate. To counteract that, they performed spectacularly with a better record than any bomber escort squadron, and in fact, no bombers where lost while they were in escort.

To further the point, I've attached what I think is an excellent example of a Ca. state approved grad with many contributions in her field. I know its anecdotal and is just an example, but I think it represents how one can succeed with a State Approved degree in their resume.

From a Society of Automotive Engineers Announcement:

"Diane Hooie received BS in ceramic engineering from Ohio State University, an MSc in engineering management from Renssaeler Polytechnic University, and a PhD in engineering from California Coast University. Dr. Hooie has over 28 years of experience converting new ideas and innovative technologies from the concept stage through production and to profitable marketable products. She has been involved in all aspects of fuel cells, from research and development to program management, since 1972. For the last 10 years, Dr. Hooie has been working on new clean energy technologies with the Department of Energy (DOE). During 1998 and 1999, she was a Mike Mansfield Fellow, where she was assigned to work with the Ministry of International Technology and Industry, Agency of Science and Industry and Agency of Natural Resources, and the National Energy Development Organization in Japan where she evaluated and revamped their stationary and transportation fuel cells programs. Currently, she is a Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, Strategic Center for Natural Gas. She is currently responsible for developing technical cooperations with non-traditional DOE customers as well as Russia and Japan. During her career, Dr. Hooie has received many awards and honors and has over 75 publications and presentations, including two books and one encyclopedia article, all pertaining to fuel cells. In 1998, she was selected “Woman of the Year,” and their highest honor, “Person of Distinction,” for the Federal Government. "

 

I can appreciate what you say, and the overall caould likely be applied to any legally operating US State Licensed College, verses RA.

At issue is - what degree of success is dependant upon the person's State Licensed/Approved Degree, and how much of the success is based on RA Degrees being mixed-in, as well as, relevant experience being factored; then compare these results to a seperate study group of all RA Degreed persons, who hold equal levels of relevant experience. The result will be the answer to the Theory.

 

Then according to this logic, people with degrees from mills would work even harder because their degrees are even more controversial, right?

 

Frankly, your argument would seem to work best for those with no degrees at all.

And that's precisely its defect. If you are preselecting individuals that you find successful, you can't turn around and generalize from that sample in order to conclude that all CA-approved graduates are successful.

The fact that Dave Thomas (founder of Wendy's) was a high-school dropout doesn't generalize into evidence that high school dropouts are superior achievers.

If you are suggesting that CA-approved degreeholders in general are superior achievers, then I think that you are wrong. Simply look at the staff listings at virtually any employer out there. Look at who is presenting at conferences and at who is publishing in journals. Look at the officers of professional organizations and at who is winning recognition in trade publications. Look at business entrepeneurs.

When you consider that there are some 200 state-approved degree-granting schools in California, of which some 100 offer doctorates, it's the comparative lack of impact that catches my attention.

Frankly, I don't think that the average Californian even knows that state-approved schools exist. Except in a few specialized niche applications, they are basically non-entities here.

 

What degree of success an individual can achieve has never been in question. Edison, Lincoln, Twain, Poe, Whitman, Andrew Jackson, and countless other Americans have achieved great success without any college degree. What they did have was talent and intellect, beyond what most of us have. I have mentioned before, college degree are not for remarkable men and women. Most of them achieved more than we ever will in a life time, before we have completed our general education courses.

The rest of us need college degrees to verify our knowledge. A person, such as I, can use all the help he can get in achieving recognition of his education. That is why I believe the best way to do this is through colleges and universities that are regionally accredited. I don't need to spend the rest of my life explaining and debating the value of my degree.

 

No, there is a point of demarcation. A CA State Approved or a State Licensed degree based on met quality standards and academic achievement would have to be the baseline for this analysis. A degree mill or spurious degree indicates a lack of ethics and these are not the people being referred to.

Athough, accomplished non-degreed people work very hard!!

 

Re: Re: Cal State Approved Grads Work Harder

Thanks, those are good points. My premise is that if one has a State Approved degree, one is more likely (don't have a statistical significance yet) to be MOTIVATED to achieve than those holding a traditional degree in order to offset any misunderstandings.

Not trying to say that SA grads are more successful. Or am I discussing the relative merits of one quality recognition system over another (RA, NA, SA).

I look at degrees as evidence of training. Advanced degrees indicate a higher level of training and philosophical understanding. And while a non-degreed person can know just as much or more as anyone else, I was trying to focus on the motivation of degree holders.

I'll look into the number of CA schools that offer doctorates, I don't think it's as high as you state, I could be wrong... last time I looked it was fairly small. And to argue the point of general recognition, I would think that most Californians (and those of other States) aren't aware of 90% of the universities that exist regardless of whether they're SA/RA/NA... the limiting factor is probably whether they have a major football team or not...