Does anyone have any experience with the programs @ UMass-Lowell. The website and curriculum are very professional, and even the price is not bad, but I'm wondering if anyone has first hand knowlege? ------------------ Would anybody tell me if I was gettin' stupider?
"Back in the day" I had considerable administrative dealings with the then-independent University of Lowell. Our students, taking mostly technical degree programs, were quite pleased with their studies. Rich Douglas
UMass-Lowell is my Master's alma mater, albeit a residential (though off-campus) program. If you have to deal with the Continuing Studies & Corporate Education (CSCE) department, be prepared for some paperwork snafus, and save *every* piece of paper they give you. Overall, I'm very satisfied with them. Bruce
After taking three courses though the UMUC BS/CIS program I transferred to the UML online BS/IS program. To make a long story short, UMUC was extremely disappointing and UML has been just a terrific experience. UMUC instructors knew the material but were not enthusiastic and curriculum organization was such that material crucial for success in a sequel course hadn't been covered in the prequel. Moreover, I could not convince persons in authority that there existed a problem. UML staff, support and teaching, have been approachable and helpful. Questions are responded to quickly and some of my instructors have even given out home phone numbers for direct consultation. The administration has been extremely responsive to my input and, as you say, the fee structure is quite reasonable. Unlike most DL programs, each course offers a weekly chat which is a great way to access the instructor in realtime. Chat isn't required but it is a convenient way to mix realtime and asynchronous learning. I have only one caveat and this was factor at both UML and UMUC. And, I expect it is a factor at most if not all online BS level CS, CIS/IS programs. Many if not most of my classmates are experienced computer professionals who skipped college who are taking courses to get the BS ticket punched. Others are mid-career computer professionals taking courses for continuing education purposes. True neophyte learners (like me) are in the minority. Sometimes this means that one must stand way up on his tippy toes just to even look over the fence at the playing field. On the other hand, the curriculum is extremely challenging and each of my UML instructors has gone the extra mile to ensure I keep up. On the other hand, I am starting to realize the value of using junior college courses as a bridge into exceptionally difficult content areas.
I am just finishing my first semester with UMass Lowell, and all three classes have met or by far exceeded my intial hopes. There relatively inexpensive, four hundred dollars cheaper than my last DL college, and by far it's been a better learning experience. Jeff
