Hi guys... As you know, I am on my quest for the MPA that will fit me the best. (Right now, UN-Omaha, CSU-DH and Upper Iowa are still in the lead). Valdosta State is supposed to have a 36-credit NASPAA accredited MPA, but I am finding their website difficult to navigate (lots of broken links, redirects, etc.) so I cannot get the info I need. They make it sound like it is an online program, but I cannot find much info about it -- most of the website is geared toward their external offerings at military bases. Of course, this is probably a huge clue already, isn't it? I'm starting to think that if they aren't set up to sell you the program, what the heck will it be like when you try to do the program?? I just wondered if anyone had any experience with them. Thanks, as always! Mary
Hi Mary - Your post raises an interesting issue. It's one that I've had to deal with in the past and I'd be surprised to discover that this isn't a common problem. Because it's a DL program you're expecting that the online presention of the program will be top rate. When it isn't, it's hard not to wonder if this is a reflection of the program itself. On the other hand, there are programs that have great marketing, very polished presentations, nice websites, etc. and yet you hear lots of complaints (I'm thinking of U of Phoenix here). In my own experience I've decided that in these situations I would "go to the source." By this I mean that I would drop a few bucks and call them on the telephone. Talk to a real person. In my mind this is the real litmus test. Talk to some people in admissions, in the academic department you're considering, in the registrars office, in the alumni office, etc. Are they polite? Do they answer your questions? Do they transfer you to the correct people? If they say they're going to send you some information, does it arrive promptly? Does it arrive at all? In my mind the website means something but the people mean just about everything. Good luck in your efforts. Jack
I couldn't agree with you more, Jack. Thanks for your post. I plan to give them a call on Monday -- especially now that I have learned that they are probably the least expensive of the programs I am looking at. Of course, if the customer service ends up to be like my first 'taste' of them, I'd rather pay the extra money for a program with better customer service. Bruce- that's the same website that I found my way to on the first day of my Valdosta search. However, it has a lot of links, but not all of them work (for example, the link to 'Online MPA'). I find the fact that they removed any way to access the online mpa info from the page with the rest of their public administration programs to be a bit odd, too, but maybe that's just me. I was able to get some tuition info which I shared on the thread that benjic started re: looking for a DL MPA. I shall keep you informed of my success (or lack, thereof) with VSU. Mary
Hello Mary, Jack's advice is consistent with some of my DL experience. I matriculated in UMUCs second BS in CIS where the technical infrastructure was terrific. In the few courses I completed the instruction wasn't especially inspired and when I encountered a problem with the curriculum I was just stonewalled by mid-level bureaucrats. I decided to transfer to UMass Lowell where the infrastructure was nowhere near as polished but the instructors were dedicated and problems were acknowledged and addressed straightaway. Two people were especially responsive and seved as my advocates once we got to "know" one another through e-mail and telephone conversations. David
