Union Institute - Utility etc. Is it a legitimate school?

I have ran across some info. on Union Institute and their programs. Are they now accredited or was there some issues with their curriculum etc. Any info on this particular school is greatly appreciated. How do they compare to other Doctoral based schools via DL?

 

Never took courses from them but they are quite legit. A google search will turn up faculty members with Union degrees. They are accredited but fairly expensive.

Cheaper alternatives include Northcentral University BUT NCU does not have the track record of Union so you pay less but NCU may have less utility if your goal is academic. Also Union is more flexible in terms of major.

Rich Douglas and Steve Levicoff are both alumni and would provide better feedback.

North

 

The Union Institute and University www.tui.edu is a legitimate university based out of Cincinnati. They were founded in 1964 so they are one of the early pioneers in the field and they are one of the few options (in some cases the only option) for liberal arts doctorates (unless you're willing to consider a good British-system dissertation-only doctorate). They are accredited by the North Central Association www.ncacihe.org . Their changes that are currently underway at Union pertain to the Ohio Board of Regents www.bor.state.oh.us . Their most recent accreditation review resulted in a ten-year extension of their accreditation (the longest period allowable). They also recently received three-year conditional re-authorization by the Ohio Board of Regents. The changes will involve limiting the number of PhD programs to those fields in which the Union core faculty have expertise (as opposed to the reliance upon adjuncts for their expertise). As to which doctoral fields will be still left standing, there is a disclosure statement re Union on the NCA website and it seems that their social science doctoratal fields will likely be left still standing. Rich takes a wait-and-see attitude, cautioning that anyone who enrolls now may find that they have additional requirements placed upon them, rather than merely the original requirements under which they entered. Also, you need to consider the source of your information. There are a lot of trolls out there (some of whom even have the gall to materialize at degreeinfo.com) who seem to get off on starting "Attack Rich and Union" threads and they, of course, need to be taken magna cum granis salis (with a large grain of salt). On the other hand, even if your major is still left standing after the changes, $18,096 a year in tuition is understandably a bit steep for most folks. Best of luck to you. By the way, what's your major?

 

Re: Re: Union Institute - Utility etc. Is it a legitimate school?

Do all schools get a 10 year accreditation once accredited? Is this the norm?

 

I hold a Ph.D. from Union. I agree with everything Ted said, and have nothing more to add, except that Union's accreditation is on notice. This isn't as bad as being on probation, and I'm sure they'll pull through--I wasn't always--but I'd still caution you regarding enrollment.

I'm thrilled with the utility of my Union degree. It allows me to teach as an adjuct. It got me a full-time Campus Chair's position with UoP (which I've since left). It got me a 6-figure income (plus) in my current job. I've turned down positions that in times past I'd only dreamed about. I've been interviewed in the press and on television. Finally, no one has ever questioned me (except in a positive manner) about my degree. I'm thrilled with the results; they're what I'd expect from earning a Ph.D. in a field I love from an accredited university almost no one has ever heard of.

 

Re: Re: Re: Union Institute - Utility etc. Is it a legitimate school?

No. Not unusual, but not the norm, either.

 

Union is in transition and is developing a number of distinct doctoral programs including a Psy.D that appears to be in compliance with the Ohio Board of Regent's recommendations.
Prior to the changes that are currently being incorporated into their doctoral programs it was possible to complete the degree in a minimum of two years. However, the minimum period to complete the degree will be three years when these new programs are in place.

Obviously, Union offers advantages to those individuals who are attracted to its flexible format and structure. They do not accept transfer credits from other graduate programs but will allow one to build past learning into their program design.

For individuals who need or prefer the structure of formal courses, other programs such as Capella, Walden, NCU may better meet their needs.

In terms of utility, the bottomline is that if the doctorate is from a regionally accredited university it will be valid. It is then in the "hands" of the student whether they will be able to make good use of the degree for their intended purposes. Best of luck. Simon

 

Thanks for the information. Yes, now that you mentioed it, there appears to be quite a few Rich Douglas bashings as you stated when you added in ( Rich-Douglas Union ).

Sorry Rich that this has seemed to occured with you in it. I am rather surprised on the tuition as well with TUI. Pretty steep in comparison to like was stated NCU, Touro, Argosy and Nova etc.

Again, thanks for the info. Seems like a good program that TUI provides.

 

What are you majoring in at the doctoral level?

 

Probably Organizational Leadership at this point. I am still pondering on the key objectives of my pursuit.

 

Might not be available at Union in the near future. Best to talk to them. Additionally, this is a common field well-served by several DL schools, none of which are facing the changes Union is. Consider them, too.

 

Rich: On another Union thread that they might bleed the PhD in Education into an EdD and the PhD in Psychology into a PsyD. Might they bleed the PhD in Organization & Management (and other Business topics) into a DBA or a DM?

 

Theoretically, yes. I've suggested to them just such a thing. But I don't know if they have the faculty to support one. And as you pointed out in this thread, that is a major issue now.

 

With all due respect to the Union grads - rightly or wrongly - Union has received negative prees - to include CHE - and perceptions matter.

 

Just curious, Rich. In what field is your PhD from Union?

 

Re: Re: Union Institute - Utility etc. Is it a legitimate school?

I have to say the issues raised are being addressed and I am glad a leader in distance education like Union is around and doing well. What I find most laughable are people who criticize Rich for getting a Ph.D. from a leader in the area of that degree. Jim is right that perceptions do matter and I would be proud to have a degree from Union.

 

Re: Re: Union Institute - Utility etc. Is it a legitimate school?

No more so than on these pages, and no more thoroughly than that brought by its alumni (like me). What's your point? That "perceptions matter"? I agree--but if you think for a minute that anyone in the business world knows about Union's challenges the past 3 years....no way.

(NB: This prospective brought to you by someone who does not recommend enrolling in Union at this time.)

 

All Union learners in the IAS program earn a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences. They also declare a concentration and a specialization. I have a concentration in Higher Education and a specialization in Nontraditional Higher Education.

Union degrees are, by design, required to be interdisciplinary. Mine wove business, human resources development, and higher education.

 

Just in case Union's Organizational Leadership doctorate ends up being abolished due to the changes it is currently undergoing, here are a few other Leadership docs listed in Bears' Guide:

Andrews University www.andrews.edu (BG15, 153)
Antioch University www.antioch.edu (BG15, 155)
Capella University www.capellauniversity.edu (BG15, 105)
University of Phoenix http://online.uophx.edu (BG15, 143)
University of South Africa www.unisa.ac.za (BG15, 144)

 

NCU also offers an Ed.d and Ph.D in education with a specialization in Organizational Leadership.