Clark Howard: If It's Not RA, It's 'Bogus,' '[Not] Any Good,' 'Worthless'

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Mark A. Sykes, Oct 6, 2005.

Loading...
  1. Mark A. Sykes

    Mark A. Sykes Member

    Clark Howard, who opines favorably about UoP, has listed what he explains are the only legitimate accrediting agencies on the show notes for October 5 - go here and select October 5.

    DETC-accredited schools ever to gain Title IV student loan eligibility? Pah! It would only happen because 'some officials in the Department of Education are in cahoots with these schools.'

    Well, his advice is free, after all.
     
  2. Jack Tracey

    Jack Tracey New Member

    Sometimes you only get what you pay for.
    Jack
     
  3. TomICAVols

    TomICAVols New Member

    And just what, praytell, qualifies him to opine regarding higher education and accreditation issues? :rolleyes:
     
  4. friendorfoe

    friendorfoe Active Member

    Um........isn't Clark Howard some AM radio talk show host guy?
     
  5. TCord1964

    TCord1964 New Member

    So I take it Clark is a "RA or no way" kind of guy.

    Nice of him to essentially call NA degrees, which are approved by the federal government, "bogus".

    But, I guess all those NA schools are in "cahoots" with the Dept. of Ed.
     
  6. TCord1964

    TCord1964 New Member

    Yes, he's a "consumer protection" type of host. He usually gives common-sense advice to people who have foolishly lost their money through some kind of scam.
     
  7. JamesK

    JamesK New Member

    If he is, doesn't that make him qualified to tell everyone his opinion about everything? :p
     
  8. DesElms

    DesElms New Member

    What, praytell, qualifies any of us to?

    Not that I agree with the guy, mind you... or that I disagree with you. I most certainly do not... either of those things. But I'm just sayin'.
     
  9. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    qualifications

    We know what we're talking about, or can round up someone who does.
    That's what.
     
  10. friendorfoe

    friendorfoe Active Member

    That and of course the fact that we're so damn charming.:D
     
  11. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    Speak for yourself, pal.
     
  12. Jack Tracey

    Jack Tracey New Member

    I don't agree with Howard but I do agree with Gregg when he indicates that this guy is entitled to his opinion. People should just be aware of the fact that this guy is in show business and (according to me) this means he's less interested in facts and reality and more interested in making a splash and getting his name in print somewhere, anywhere. He's got no stake in this issue and in a week he'll be on to some other topic.
    Jack
     
  13. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    Wow. This so cool. I've never picked nits with TWO moderators at once.
    Sure he's entitled. Sure he's free to utter. But bejabers he's unqualified.
    And I'd never heard of the guy.
     
  14. anthonym

    anthonym New Member

    Although not everyone agrees with his opinion, his advice is nevertheless sound for those considering an online degree. He has identified and recommended the regional accreditors, which is a safest route in most cases. DETC degrees are valid and useful, but they do carry risks such as the transferability of credits and graduate opportunities. His role is to offer advice and in this case he has offers great advice that steers people away from degree mills and valid degrees that might have handicaps.
     
  15. Kit

    Kit New Member

    I read a few more of his comments, including some archived from previous months. His advice seems to be very simplistic sound-bite type messages, he doesn't delve too deeply into any subject. If you keep that in mind then it's easier to understand his "RA or no way" stance, it's just a way of offering the simplest advice to those who might want little else. Those not wanting or caring to know the basics of accreditation are probably safest sticking to RA education.

    He is entitled to his opinion of course, but he did cross the line by accusing the U.S. DOE of being "in cahoots" with "bogus" schools. It sounds like he never heard of CHEA. I have never heard him, but someone else posted that he is primarily an entertainer so maybe that explains his style.

    Kit
     
  16. anthonym

    anthonym New Member

    He has a local Atlanta consumer affairs talk radio program. He generally covers a broad range of topics over the course of his show, so he does not go too in depth, generally.
     
  17. qvatlanta

    qvatlanta New Member

    I agree. Widely known as the tightest man in Georgia, Clark Howard thinks you're practically clinically insane if you ever spend more than 99 cents for sunglasses. He also never buys anything you have to dry clean. He is actually a very good source for figuring out deals, saving money and avoding scams. A lot of the scams he warns about seem like they're so obvious, but no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the general public...
     
  18. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    There are distinct limitations to degrees issued by DETC-accredited schools. This makes them less valuable. There's no avoiding this fact.

    Regional accreditation is the most widely accepted and understood form of institutional accreditation.
     
  19. antraeindubh

    antraeindubh New Member

    Clark Smart

    Clark has the voice of an angel...an angel of death that is...

    ...he shares some great information with his listeners, but I can't tune in for more than a few minutes as the Clark whine is like sandpapers on my ears - and the stupidity of his callers is stunning...people who paid their life savings to grifters and "it's not a pyramid scheme!" types...

    And he's even cheaper than I am..."You paid $2 for a box of Wheaties!? I paid two cents for a two ton drum of generic cereal at Costco!"
     
  20. Jake_A

    Jake_A New Member

    Clark Howard is very, very qualified to, to, ........ to give his opinion. Also, really, what can one reasonably expect, since he is one of the radio talk show "hot-air" types.

    But let us not be so hard on the guy.

    On this issue (of DL), he is prone to be a 50-50 percent accurate / inaccurate kind of guy, given his lack of citations of documention and sources for his DL assertions.

    CH: "Bogus for-profit colleges are growing."

    True, if he is speaking of the nefarious online cash-and-carry diploma mills. He is a polemicist and off-base if he is including NA schools in his "bogus" definition/classification.

    CH: "Clark has been a strong advocate for private, for-profit colleges for years. He’s believed that without the profit incentive, a lot of four year colleges look at everything as “cost plus.” That’s why tuition rates have gone up way beyond the rate of inflation."

    If this is true, it is only part of the truth.

    CH: " But there is a need and opportunity to bring efficiency into the world of secondary education. More than two million people are now attending for profit colleges. Unfortunately, in that area, there are a lot of schools that aren’t any good."

    Partly true, but he is, perhaps, a victim of poor writing and elucidation, if not mumbled thoughts on the subject. Is he equating for-profit with "no good?" or diploma mills with "no good?" or all unaccredited schools with "no good?" Your guess is as good as mine.

    CH: "A Wall Street Journal investigation revealed how powerful politicians are trying to give those below par schools access to these federally subsidized student loans."

    WSJ has been known to be somewhat critical of online and executive, non B&M, MBAs. CH, however, conveniently does not cite the source for this particular WSJ investigation.

    CH: "We, the taxpayers, are subsidizing the schools."

    He is not clear "which below par schools" he is referreing to here. Are we subsidizing SRU, Athenaeum U, and the like? Darn! Can I get my money back?

    CH: "There are 8 regional organizations in the U.S. that review a college and determine whether that school meets the requirement for earning accreditation."

    Fact, but not the whole truth. He is only citing RA accrediting bodies.

    CH: "You need to go to an accredited school so your credits can be used or transferred at a grad school or other institution. So, before you consider one of these schools, make sure you find out if they are accredited by one of those accreditation bodies. If not, you could be on the hook for a ton of money."

    Faily safe advice for a DL newbie, wouldn't you say so, too?

    CH: "Some of these schools make students sign contracts showing that they owe money even if the education they received is worthless."

    "Worthless or almost worthless," yes. I could name at least one, .... starts with a "K" and has "Western" somewhere in it. LOL.

    CH: "The worst part is that some officials in the Department of Education are in cahoots with these schools."

    Mere assertion/allegation with no proffered evidence to back it up. No naming of names? Oh, well.

    CH: "Here is the list:"

    Ys, this is the RA list but he conveniently forgets to mention that this list is not the only authorized, legitimate accrediting bodies list (recognized by CHEA and/or USDoE).

    CH:

    "Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Middle States Commission on Higher Education

    "New England Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Institutions of Higher Education

    "New England Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Technical and Career Institutions

    "North Central Association of Colleges and Schools - The Higher Learning Commission

    "Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
    Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

    "Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges

    "Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities."

    Oh, yes. May their tribes increase.

    :)

    Thanks.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 6, 2005

Share This Page