I am curious about National University. They are Regionally Accredited (WASC) and offer online degree programs, but I have no idea what kind of reputation they have in the academic world. Is anyone familiar with National?
I hold an MBA from National, earned in the classroom in 1985. (Twenty years ago!) National is the 2nd largest private university in California. (Or it used to be; I'm not sure if UoP has exceeded it with its California campuses.) National was a real innovator in the 1970's and 1980's, using computer systems to create unparalleled delivery schedules. They're a pioneer in the one-course-at-a-time method, with each academic course taking place in a one-month period. National, a not-for-profit university, got over-extended in the late 1980's, buying too much land. This made them both cash poor and reduced their financial flexibility. When they expanded to Las Vegas, WASC put them on probation. As a result, the founder and several other officers of the university were ousted, many learning centers were closed, and much land was sold off. (I believe they shed the law school, too.) The university survived--while not seeing a drop in enrollments!--and probation was promptly removed. Not much has changed in their academic approach, except for a huge implementation of online programs. At no time was National's academics put into question. Earning a degree from National is like earning a degree from any other accredited university most people have never heard of. I've put it to very good use over the past two decades.
Hello Rich, Describe to me what you mean in the quote..I've put it to very good use. What field are you in exactly? Also, I am aware you obtained your PhD from Union, however, did National University ever create any resistence for you being a DL type program? I have a National University campus right next door to the hotel I operate. The students keep parking in my parking lot and it is kind of a hinderance to my guests. Tuition definitely does not include a parking pass...haha National is a pioneer in the DL arena from what I am aware of. Not sure why UoP was able to maximize on the global expansion. Must be investors dollars..that is for sure.
National is what I call a "generic" RA school. They'll never be considered prestigious, but neither will their legitimacy be questioned. I think what Rich meant was that any RA degree, no matter from where, has inherent utility. I'm the first to admit that my undergrad degree is from a totally generic school (Curry College) that most people outside MA won't recognize, but it netted me a 20% pay raise, and was also my "entrance ticket" to a graduate program that most people do recognize (UMass). So, I've put my RA, generic, undergrad degree to good use.
This is just my experience, but I took one class from National. I was obtaining a B&M degree, and they had one class not available at night, so let me take it from NU. The class had a very complex website, and that was not the problem, but the logisitics. When we went to chat, we asked about the links not working, and not being able to get into the tests. The instructor said he did not discuss the tehcnial issues, and go to the help desk, and did we have any content questions. Since all of us could not get into the content portion of the course, of course we did not. It was a 16 week course, and this went on for about 12 weeks. Each chat got more and more combative - the instructor frustrated that we had not started on the material, and we were furstrated that we could not get into the modules to start the course. I took it upon myself to get the helpdesk into the chat, and they finally realized the problem in week 13. Finally, we did finish the course, with the first paper being submitted. From the contact I had with other students, we all received A's. I am hopeful that all the classes were not like this - this was about 8 years ago. We were all shocked at the A , as we thought we would all get incompletes, but we got the A from the one paper. I hate to say, but it tainted me from the RA schools until I came here - though I know that is not a fair assessment of all RA schools, but it was my first exposure to them.
