The "Big Three"

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by glimeber, Feb 19, 2005.

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  1. glimeber

    glimeber New Member

    Greetings All,

    I am a little apprehensive in asking this question here knowing that I may get my head handed to me but...here goes. I so often hear the "Big Three" referred to in this forum. The "Big Three" being Charter Oak, Excelsior, and Edison. Having viewed each one of these programs I am curious - what makes each one of these programs a member of the "Big Three"? I guess I am asking what is the criteria to gain this perceived membership? It's certainly not numbers of student enrolled, revenues generated, research conducted/published, etc.... I suppose it might be date established but I am not certain of that fact. I suppose it could be number of graduates but don't know that to be a fact either. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

    "G" in Indiana
     
  2. jayncali73

    jayncali73 New Member

    I'm not a 100% positive. However, I believed they are termed the "Big Three" because they are the only three colleges in the nation where you can complete your degree totally by assessment testing (i.e CLEP, DANTES, ECE exams).

    I'm sure others will chime in...
     
  3. CoachTurner

    CoachTurner Member

    While there may now be other universities that offer similar options -- these three have been the model upon which many other programs were based.

    It remains that there are very few other legitimate BA/BS programs that allow a transfer in of 100% of the program with no residency requirements and such generous acceptance of varied means of earning credit beyond traditional classroom coursework.

    Not too many years ago, these were considered very innovative programs and they had few peers in the US. With the proliferation of DL programs and internet based learning though, they have begun to be seen as "normal" or typical more than the innovators they were 20 years ago. This then validates that the vision they had then was reasonable and that they were indeed ahead of the times.

    So it is that many folks call Excelsior College, Charter Oak State College, and Thomas Edison State College the Big Three if for no other reason than that they have been the leading proponents of assessment based degrees for many many years.

    I just wonder how long it will be before we see these methods as the normal delivery approach and reminisce about the old days when we went to a classroom with 30 or 60 other students... -- I'm still waiting for DL inter-collegiate athletics though :) or the video-conferenced choir rehearsal :cool:
     
  4. glimeber

    glimeber New Member

    "Big Three"

    CoachTurner,

    Interesting. So from that perspective the "Big Three" have evolved into the "First Three"?

    "G" in Indiana
     
  5. CoachTurner

    CoachTurner Member

    Re: "Big Three"

    I don't think that they were really the first three in the way that they were here first. I think they were here loudest.

    DL has been around as long as colleges have -- it's just a matter of how much emphasis was placed on the DL or assesment aspect of the program.
     
  6. Anthony Pina

    Anthony Pina Active Member

    Hello "G"

    I don't know why you would feel apprehensive. No one is going to hand you your head for making an honest inquiry. In a relatively short period of time (just a few years), Degreeinfo has evolved into a fairly established group that has become comfortable with certain jargon and acronyms, (such as RA, NA, DL, Big Three, shill, troll, mill). While the other terms can be found elsewhere, "Big Three" is definitely a piece Degreeinfo jargon for TESC, Excelsior and COSC (see more acronyms!).

    CoachTurner's observation regarding the unique non-residency of those three institutions and theri past success in non-traditional education as being the reason for referring to them as the "Big Three" are right on the mark. Other programs require short residency (such as my own university's non-traditional BA program, which requires only 15 residency units), but only these three will award degrees for work entirely done elsewhere.

    Tony Pina
    Administrator, Northeastern Illinois University
     
  7. Bill Huffman

    Bill Huffman Well-Known Member

    Hugs and kisses for asking a question that even I could answer. However since it has already been answered by others you'll just have to settle for hugs and kisses from me. :D
     
  8. plantagenet

    plantagenet New Member

    Re: "Big Three"

    The University of London has been offering external degrees/diplomas since 1858. I think they can claim to one of the first.

    "The Big Three" can claim to have taken it to extremes though (allowing graduation without taking any of their courses)
     

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