ACCIS - Current Day

Discussion in 'IT and Computer-Related Degrees' started by pcguy, Dec 24, 2002.

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  1. pcguy

    pcguy New Member

    I realize this school has been discussed to nauseam, but I'd like to get a feel from students who are currently attending, or recently graduated.

    I also understand many people on this board, no matter what, will always try to dissuade people from this school.

    I personally, am considering it for many reasons. One of which being The University Of Phoenix (Online) will accept their degree towards a Masters - which is RA. This alone should send a message to the skeptics - I needn't say more.

    If you happen to be a student or recent grad, PLEASE email me at [email protected]

    Many thanks - hope to hear from you.
     
  2. DaveHayden

    DaveHayden New Member

    "One of which being The University Of Phoenix (Online) will accept their degree towards a Masters - which is RA. This alone should send a message to the skeptics - I needn't say more."

    Unfortunately, this says more about U of P's requirements than the quality of ACCIS. Certainly not a degree I would be interested in.
     
  3. pcguy

    pcguy New Member

    I rest my case

    Dave,

    You seem like a nice guy, and certainly intelligent - but you prove my point.

    There are people here that NO MATTER what, you refuse to acknowledge ANY good from the ACCIS court... I can't figure out why...stubbornness?

    Now you're knocking an RA school - One that has a good reputation to boot.

    I'll just never figure people like you out.... I don't mean for this to sound offensive - quite the contrary - I am completely vexed.

    Oh well - Hopefully I'll hear from someone who has 1st hand knowledge of ACCIS...

    Thanks-
     
  4. DaveHayden

    DaveHayden New Member

    Hi PC Guy

    I guess I learned long ago that reputation follows you no matter what. ACCIS's reputation is less than stellar. Does that mean they have no good qualities? Certainly not, but why choose an also ran when better choices are available?

    Certainly get feedback from current students. Please realize that students often have a vested interest in perceptions of their school. Many schools use Alumni as a recruiting tool for this exact reason.

    Above all, choose the school that is best for you. If that is ACCIS great! Just realize that ACCIS reputation will not change over night. It will take time. Good luck no matter what and, of course, happy holidays.
     
  5. pcguy

    pcguy New Member

    Reputation

    Dave,

    You're right - their past certainly enters into the equation.

    For me though, I think it's a good choice - at least so far - I haven't made any commitments ...yet. I am comfortable with their progress, and especially their courses offered.

    Just FYI - I have attended classes at Thomas Edison and Strayer University, and Certificate courses at NJIT - I am not completely naive ;)

    My last employer paid 100% tuition, so I was going to Strayer, but I got laid off. My new employer pays 2/3's - and has a relatively small max per year, so I need to keep my costs way down. If I continued at Strayer, I'd only be able to take 3 classes a year if I want my employer to pay for it. So I am extending my search...

    Merry Christmas to you.
     
  6. Gary Rients

    Gary Rients New Member

    Why not consider RA options that have a similar cost to ACCIS? For example, the University of Hawaii offers an online BA in Information and Computer Sciences with a cost of $131/sem. hour, with a requirement to take 30 sem. hours from U of H. You need to have junior standing for admission, but there are plenty of inexpensive sources of RA credit available.

    Honestly, while it may now be a fine school (I don't know), I really don't see how a degree from ACCIS could be anything but disadvantageous, compared to the RA alternatives. Only you can decide what path is best for you, but I'd hate to see you limit your options unless there is a compelling reason for it, and I just can't think of one for choosing ACCIS - please let me know if I'm missing something.
     
  7. Chip

    Chip Administrator

    I think that people don't get the nuances of what most long-time people are saying about ACCIS.

    I've said this many times, and will repeat it again for the benefit of those who didn't hear it before.

    I have heard nothing to indicate that the current academic quality of ACCIS is anything less than adequate for a DETC school, and have also heard some indications that its curriculum may be similar in rigor to some of the better RA CS programs.

    That said, however, the school has a very long and EXTREMELY unsavory reputation of fraudulently misreprenting its accreditation status up until the very day that DETC accredited them... and DETC violated its own guidelines, which require member schools to use honest, non-deceptive marketing practices, in approving ACCIS in the first place. (Despite numerous opportunities to do so, DETC has never attempted to justify this action. I suspect it was monetary.)

    ACCIS, recognizing the checkered past it had as AICS and its association with Lloyd Clayton, operator of several other unwonderful programs, went so far to distance itself as to actually change its name.

    But a school that was willing to defraud its students the day before achieving accreditation cannot be assumed to be lily white just because the DETC overlooked one of its own policies to grant accreditation. And the staff and management that knowingly deceived students is still there.

    Given that cloud, the ownership by known less-than-wonderful school purveyor Lloyd Clayton, and the many, many other excellent programs out there (most of which aren't saddled with the limits of DETC accreditation) *without* the baggage of a sleazy past, there is really little to recommend ACCIS as a first choice.

    However, if you don't care about the long unsavory reputation, the fact that the same unethical people are still at the helm, and that DETC apparently does next to nothing to oversee or care about ethical standards within a school, meaning that there could be all sorts of unsavory stuff beneath the surface that we just can't see... by all means, go for it.
     
  8. John Craparo

    John Craparo New Member

    When you are talking to current students or graduates, you might want to ask about employers who have shown interest in recruiting them. Does the school have some sort of recruiting office or officer? This avoids the subjective responses to questions like -- Did you get a promotion? Is your employer paying the tuition? Do you think the work is challenging? The answer to the recruiting question will garner an objective view of the worth of an ACCIS degree by parties without a vested interest.

    This is one possible strategy for getting the information you are interested in...

    John
     
  9. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    pcguy: "The University Of Phoenix (Online) will accept their degree towards a Masters - which is RA. This alone should send a message to the skeptics - I needn't say more."

    John, saying more: What message is that? As has been reported here, about 40% of RA schools will accept this degree, either always or usually. So if Phoenix (or one of the other 40%) is your choice for an eventual Master's, then it's a reasonable choice. If not, not.
     
  10. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Re: I rest my case

    Perhaps your vexation stems from the fact that these issues are complicated and, as such, support many points of view, even those that are contrary to yours.

    If your goal is to be (eventually) admitted to a regionally accredited master's program, then ACCICS is a less-effective choice than other, RA schools. But why stop there? If an ACCICS bachelor's is sufficient, why not a bachelor's from a DETC-accredited school? Or if the master's must be RA, why not the bachelor's? As John points out, degrees from DETC-accredited schools enjoy less acceptance in academic circles. Well, guess what. They enjoy less acceptance in employment circles, too. But that's something for another day....
     
  11. Gary Rients

    Gary Rients New Member

    Come on Rich, stop teasing us, just share your results already! :)
     
  12. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    Gary: Come on Rich, stop teasing us, just share your results already!


    John: Given both rules and tradition regarding publishing ones research before a dissertation is accepted -- and the uncertainty as to whether on-line 'publishing' is equivalent to "real' publishing, as a member of Rich's committee at Union, I am encouraging him (reluctantly) not to share his data at this time.
     
  13. comp-sci-guy

    comp-sci-guy New Member

    Hello. I'm currently a student at ACCIS and let me tell you that I find their CS program to be pretty good by most accounts. It's a tough course. Believe me, it will challenge you. Many people who are not enrolled here are quick to put it down based on the past. They talked as though no other school has problems. They can only base their judgment on what they read or heard and not what they have experienced personally with the school. Have any of you at least taken the time to contact the school to find out what they are about? Obviously not! Have you thought whether or not the school could meet your needs? Again, obviously not! But be that as it may, let me say this: I think their program is good but challenging and I intend to graduate within 2 years. And to the BUCKET MOUTHS such as Dave who keep putting this school down and at the same time, tells everyone don't consider ACCIS because they have a long way to go, I have this for you: If the school is to prove itself, they need students to enroll. They will never prove themselves if students don't enroll. Therefore, make up your mind. You can't have it both ways Dave, Simple as that. Just my 2 cents worth.
     
  14. DaveHayden

    DaveHayden New Member

    An interesting, if arguementive, post comp-sci guy. A couple of points to consider:

    1. If ACCIS or any other school is the best for you, enroll! It is your money and future. Ultimately only you can choose what path is best for you.

    2. As far as the idea one has to enroll in a program to have an opinion about it, that is of course ridiculous. I don't have to enroll in MIT to know it is an excellent program. Nor, do I need to enroll in a degree mill to know it is worthless. ACCIS is similiar. It is neither MIT nor a degree mill, but somewhere in between.

    3. Yes, ACCIS will need students to improve their reputation. In fact, they will need tons of them for quite a few years. Do I plan on being their test subject while there are RA choices at the same or lower prices? No. Is it my opinion that others should avoid ACCIS? Yes. Let ACCIS worry about living with the reputation they have created for themselves.

    4. Thanks for your kind and respectful post. I think it shows others the value and weight of your opinion.

    Sincerely
    Dave "Bucket Mouth" Hayden
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 6, 2003
  15. DaveHayden

    DaveHayden New Member

    Last time this discussion came up, I asked comp-sci guy a simple question he never anserwed. I post it again hoping to get a serious answer.

    "Hi comp-sci-guy


    I did not and am not addressing class quality. It may be great it may be horrible. From their reputation my guess is it is ok but mediocre. With their reputation I have no interest in their program. I think you have over looked my questions to you so I will repost them.

    "My question was what reason did you choose to enroll at ACCIS? I don't think it was reputation, accreditation or utility. Was it course content, advertising or ? How did you check out the school before enrolling? "

    If by not answering them you are saying you are enrolled at ACCIS for education and will never use the degree for employment then you may have a valid argument. Since you could gain the education easily with self study that may be a better choice. It would certainly be lower cost.

    You seem like an earnest student and as I said before if an ACCIS program meets your needs and is the best choice for you great! It will take quite a bit of defending over the next few decades so you should probably get use to the task. Good luck in your path."

    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

    I am also providing a list of RA programs that I believe are superior to ACCIS for most but not all students.

    Troy State Uninversity CS
    RA, State program, accepts CLEP and DANTES, low cost, true Computer Science major
    http://www.tsufl.edu/distancelearni...r%20Science.htm

    Univ. of Mass. Lowell IT
    RA, State program, accepts CLEP and DANTES, low cost (dl program charges in-state rates for out of state students), great reputation, feedback from students is it is a great program
    http://cybered.uml.edu/cy_BSonline.htm

    Univ. of Maryland IS Management, CIS, and Computer Studies
    RA, State program, accepts CLEP and DANTES, medium cost (out of state students pay much higher tuition), great reputation

    Ft Hays State University General Studies with a concentration in Computer Networking and Telecommunications
    RA, State program, may accept CLEP and DANTES, low cost, faculty seems to have a good contacts in the industry
    which could easy lead to a nice job, program can include cisco training
    http://web.fhsu.edu/universitycatal...ecommunications

    Excelsior College CIS
    RA, accepts all CLEP and DANTES, lowest cost, very good reputation, requires the most self discipline and is best for those with industry experience and certifications
    http://www.excelsior.edu/tec_home.htm

    Regis University Computer Networking
    RA, Jesuit program, designed in conjunction with Sun (the makers of Java programing lang. and Solaris OS), Higher cost but if you have tuition reimbursement not an issue, great reputation and excellent program

    University of Washington Computing and Software Systems
    RA, State program of the highest calibur, medium cost, programming focus, school has an excellent reputation
    http://www.outreach.washington.edu/...am/overview.asp

    University of London
    Non-RA but a GAAP school of the highest reputation, haven't had time to thoroughly check out program

    Also of interest but further down the list for me
    NJIT
    City University
    Park University
    Franklin University
    Limstone College
    Western Governors University
    Strayer University
    Rogers State University
    Bakers College
    Jones International University

    Again this is not an exhaustive list but the lowest cost ones that have captured my interest the most. All are RA with good to great reputations with the exception of U of London. I keep thinking about writing a detailed web page to show all the choices but at present it will have to wait. I would include a DETC school but only if it had an exceptional reputation. I hope this is of help. Remember whatever choice you make you will be living with for decades.

    I hope these posts are helpful to some of the readers.
     
  16. portb71

    portb71 New Member

    "Univ. of Maryland IS Management, CIS, and Computer Studies
    RA, State program, accepts CLEP and DANTES, medium cost (out of state students pay much higher tuition), great reputation "

    Maryland (www.umd.edu) does not offer this type of program on line. UMUC does (www.umuc.com) but it is UMD, not UMUC that has the top tier reputation in CS..
     
  17. agingBetter

    agingBetter New Member

    There are no programs outside of ACCIS that provide a flexible MSCS. All those listed in this thread provide IT degrees, not hardcore CS degrees, and certainly not MSCS.

    I ask those in the know to comment.


    thanks!
     
  18. agingBetter

    agingBetter New Member

    Well, I spoke too soon...someone posted on this forum about National University...significantly more expensive than ACCIS, but WASC accredited.

    Seemingly flexible, too.
     
  19. Gary Rients

    Gary Rients New Member

    I'm not sure what you mean by flexible or hardcore, but there are quite a few DL MS in CS programs. RPI, USC, Illinois, etc.
     
  20. agingBetter

    agingBetter New Member

    I mean rolling admissions and courses in graphics programming, compiler development, artificial intelligence, distributed and parallel computing.

    Sure, those programs have these courses, but their admissions are restricted, some require GRE, and while all require discrete math, linear algebra, data structures and computer architecture, they do not offer these courses. So someone like me who is missing some prerequisities would have to go elsewhere first. Not a minor inconvenience, in addition to the fact that you can only enroll at certain times of the year. Miss the date and you are out for six months in most cases.

    I like that National University has courses reasonably priced (I've seen some D/L MSCS programs at $1800 a pop) and offers the prerequisites (Capitol College does not offer the prerequisites).

    It is an open university. I like that.
    The fewer barriers, the better. I tend to believe in letting the education process eliminate the masses, not the admission process.
     

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