Problems with the University of South Africa

THis is an Email I wrote to John Bear about Unisa, and how I really got taken for a ride.

> Dear Mr Bear,
>
> You should warn your readers about the University
> of South Africa. It's not the place to be if you want
> to finish quickly.
> First, transfering credits is next to
> impossible, plan on the process taking over a year
> depending on how cooperative your previous university
> is.
> Second, their programs are not internally
> consistent. Courses require prerequisites that are
> not in the degree program, so they will tell you that
> you have to take extra courses that are not in the
> program. This is just sloppy design.
> Third, they took my money and told me I was
> signed up, then never sent me any study materials.
> When I asked why, three weeks into the term, they told
> me I was only temporarily registered. News to me.
> Now I'm fed up and want my money back, and they don't
> answer their email.
> Fourth, they lose documents all the time. I sent
> them my transcripts three different times, and then
> they said they needed my high school diploma to prove
> I could study in a University. So I sent it (It's
> like a large wallet), and they never aknowledged
> recieving it. I've been asking for it back for four
> months with no reply.
> Fifth, they hate Americans. I have been met
> with total distrust about everything. Most forms
> cannot be filled out unless you have O-levels,
> A-levels, and all these school ID numbers that
> Americans don't have. Nothing but confustion when you
> try to find out how to do these forms.
> Basically, the teacher contact is zero. The
> contact with administrators and help is close to zero-
> I typically wait at least two weeks for a response to
> anything, then another three weeks or so waiting for
> the snail mail.
> Truly sorry to write so long, but I hope this
> information will be useful to you, and anyone else who
> thinks that Unisa is a good, cheap option. It isn't.
> Sincerely,
> Allen Slea
>

 

I completed my UNISA study more than ten years ago. I think students studying in the UK education system (with O & A levels) can more easily fit into the SA education system.

Like UK universities, UNISA has a very restricted policy for the transfer of credits(whilst US universities adopt a very flexible approach for this).

When one applies for graduate studies,it does require one to take some additional foundation courses not covered in one's undergraduate program (especially those of SA accounting and taxation if one chooses business programs). One must be careful about this before applying for the UNISA.

Of course, one must recognize that the efficiency of administrative system of SA universities may be one of the problems. However, the Rand (SA currency) is depreciating year after year. It is around $1=R8 whilst it was $1=R2 some ten years ago. The course fee for the whole program of the UNISA would probably less than one year's study fee in the DL US program. One must be careful to balance all such factors before choosing it.

 

Your point about the cheapness is well taken. I estimate that it costs about $1,000 a year to study there, including the cost of books.
I just wish they could find the cash to hire decent administrators. I never expected a college to push me and my money away so forcefully.

Unisa- the exact opposite of a diploma mill?
Allen

 

If one is looking for a "BA in 4-weeks" scenario, then no, Unisa is not the place to be. However, if one is willing to navigate the red tape, administrative overload and slow response time, Unisa does indeed provide a substantive program of study for the distance learner.

I considered Unisa's Ph.D. program, but after contacting them and speaking with several grads, felt that other options were more feasible for my situation. Actually, their tuition is slightly less than Potchefstroom. It was the slow response time that I didn't want to struggle with for a 3-5 year period.

But since I live in the South (NC), I definitely wanted a southern school, so I went with a South African program--Potchefstroom.

Russell

 

Mr. Slea's letter is indeed disappointing.

Ten or more years ago, an American UNISA student, Cam Nolan, wrote and sold an extremely helpful manual on how to go through the process. Quite a few people wrote to me to say that it helped them get through the program much more effectively. Alas, Nolan no longer sells it (and won't let me sell it), claiming it is too out-of-date.

And then about three years ago, UNISA apparently appointed a US representative, John Craparo, to deal with students and logistics in the US. Unfortunately, Mr. Craparo has (from my own attempts and reports of others) not been responsive to inquiries.

These are disappointing developments. I wonder if the people in Pretoria know or care?

 

I must say that I've had very good responses from the theology faculty at UNISA--very helpful, timely, kind, and professional.

 

I have had similar experiences with the faculty of theology at UNISA. Over several years, I have engaged in numerous email dialogues with key individuals there, and have had a couple of very enjoyable phone conversations as well. I've been very impressed with the theology faculty.

The problem is that the theology faculty is not a self-contained academic outfit. One also has to work with the various administrative departments of the university. My attempts at dealing with these departments have been cause for manifold frustrations.

The apparent MIA status of Dr. Crapola here in the US, the individual who was supposed to be the answer to all of our woes in navigating the UNISA minefield, has only further compounded my sense of frustration with the UNISA system.

Thus, I will continue to look elsewhere.

 

My experience with the UNISA Dept. of Philosophy was quite similar to that of Allens experience. The email brochure they sent specifically stated that applications from the USA were not welcome. This has resulted in UNISA being the absolute bottom of the barrel last resort choice. The current top choice? Edith Cowen University PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies (I'm still reading through that dreaded "fine print")
Jack

 

I am not sure this is true of all SA schools... UofPretoria has advertised internationally for some of their DL programs.

 

I can add that I have found the South African schools I contacted to be very helpful, courteous, and encouraging.

There seems to be something about UNISA. A couple of others posted disappointment with Mr. Carparo. From what I have seen posted here I would go through the Canadian equivalent of Craparo and let them deal with UNISA. Someone posted here that the Canuck version got back to them very promptly and let them know whether the degree was possible through DL etc.

Do a yahoo search for "UNISA"(Canada).

North

 

Here is the web site:
http://www.iaci-canada.com/Homepage.htm

North

 

As a general rule, same here.

Pretoria and SATS/Zululand have been exceptionally helpful and responsive. I've been extremely impressed with the level of interaction I've been enabled to have with both of these schools (and, thus, consider them both to be strong possibilites for future doctoral study). Additionally, AFM Theological Seminary (validated by Rand Afrikaans University) has been very responsive and helpful.

So, yes, generally I have been thrilled with the calibre of interest and assistance that has been extended to me as American prospective student by South African institutions.

 

Didn't they just recently achieve DETC accreditation? What's the deal here?

 

There has been some discussion about that, but they're not listed yet on DETC's board.

It is likely DETC will accredit part of UNISA, but not all, just like they did with IMC and the CLMS at U. of Leicester. But this does raise a question about customer satisfaction. DETC's accreditation guidelines seem to require some semblance of responsiveness to the customer. This is a characteristic notoriously missing from UNISA. The arrogance and indifference shown to American inquirers and students wouldn't seem to fit.

Also, the DETC can't even follow its own definitions about what is and isn't accreditation when it comes to schools offering the doctorate. It accredits several, then excludes the doctoral programs. Yet....

Distance study accreditation is an institution-wide source of Nationally-Recognized accreditation that covers all distance study courses offered by an institution. It is unique in American accreditation because it is one based upon a method of instruction rather than educational level or subject matter discipline. It covers all programs, courses and distance study endeavors of an institution, including degree, non-degree, vocational and avocational programs." (Emphasis added)

And this:

"The Accrediting Commission does not accept applications from institutions which offer distance study academic degree programs beyond the Masters degree level. Recently, it has been conducting a "pilot program" to evaluate first professional academic degrees offered via distance study." (Emphasis added)

It just doesn't jibe that DETC would be able to accredit St Augustine, Concord, IMC, UNISA, CLMS, or any other school that, somewhere in its operations, offers doctoral degrees. Except for the J.D. program at Concord, none of the others offers what would fall under the definition of "first professional academic degrees." (DETC said as much when it excluded IMC's Ph.D. programs from its accreditation--even though DETC says it accredits the entire school's operations.)

Rich Douglas

 

I have to say that it is useless to email Dr. Crapola, twice he has promised to send me information, twice I have waited 2 months and have not recived anything. I have recived no response from him after my last attempt. I have almost given up on UNISA but I will attempt to contact the group up in Canada. Thanks for the wealth of info!
Jason

 

Will it be useful to reflect the situation & problem to the UNISA direct?

 

I think it needs to be done, but I think I must be carefull not to muddy the waters before I gain admission. I told the whole story to the office in Canada in a recent email, I hope they can help me out, then afterwards I can contact others who may be able to get the US in gear again..

 

Trust me, Unisa knows all about these problems that I brought up and the others that other people have mentioned.
In case anyone is curious about how Unisa is perceived in its own country, here's a snippet I heard from my exam proctor, a South African, and a Unisa student.
"Unisa is for people too lazy to study. My friends will usually say, I don't feel like going to university this semester, so I'll do Unisa instead."

 

I have studied in the UNISA, US and UK universities. From my own experience some ten years ago, I don't think the examination standard of the UNISA is much less than that of the US and UK unversities. Of course, I don't know its standard now.