University of Phoenix Online

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Randy Miller, Sep 11, 2006.

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  1. Randy Miller

    Randy Miller New Member

    From what I understand, students are expected on log-on at least five times a week.

    But what happens if they don't. Are they dismissed from the course, their grade lowered, or any other ramifications?

    What do you like or not like about the course structure?

    Thanks you any information current or prior UoP students or faculty can provide.
     
  2. glimeber

    glimeber New Member

    Randy,

    With all due respect this site is a very poor one to ask any questions about any for-profit school. The opinions are so skewed against the same that you simply will not get good, accurate or useful information. Following my post you can expect to see an avalanche of anti-UOP, UOP bashing, and the spewing of UOP hate. The volume will be such that you will nearly be stunned. Good luck, my friend, as you research your topic.
     
  3. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Well, I took two on campus classes and one "on-line" class. It was not really online it was independant study. Can't say anything about logging in five times a week - call the school. I think UoP offers a quality education but their marketing has left a bad taste in peoples mouth.

    I cannot understand why people are against for-profit schools. Don't they need to make a profit to pay for land, salaries, websites, updates to classes, student services?

    Good luck and you are in the right place to find quality answers, they are just hidden sometimes behind the BS :cool:
     
  4. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    By the way, I am not ignorant - I know the difference but I am just making a point
     
  5. Randy Miller

    Randy Miller New Member

    I'm most interested in the log-in requirements - the website says 5 times a week but it doesn't say what happens if you don't.

    Calling is easier said than done. Online or by phone they want a lot of person information before answering any questions.
     
  6. TCord1964

    TCord1964 New Member

    Personally, I don't care whether a college is public or for-profit, as long as the education is good. After all, isn't that what should REALLY matter?

    I have seen both good and bad information about the University of Phoenix. My only problem with UoP is I believe it is terribly overpriced for ANY college, for-profit or not.
     
  7. Shawn Ambrose

    Shawn Ambrose New Member

    I'm not a UOP student, but am curious as to what your degree goals are?

    Shawn
     
  8. Dr Rene

    Dr Rene Member

    Randy,

    I can’t comment on UOP on-line, but I did teach for Keller Grad School of Management (another for-profit school) for a couple of years before moving into my current full time teaching position.

    Keller’s courses are hybrids—a combination of both on-line and on-campus. I required students to post comments or participate in a discussion in response to questions I would post on our course website. If they did not respond, I would dock their class participation grade, it’s that simple.

    I enjoyed the added capability and flexibility from the on-line classroom. Students that were normally quiet in class (either due to personality or intimidation from other students) were often quite vocal in their on-line posts. I think the on-line posting requirement leveled the playing field for the students, in addition to making the course much more challenging and rigorous.

    Students that were normally quiet and did not speak up in class, for whatever reason, could establish a one-on-one discussion with the instructor, and the class as a whole. In addition, as the instructor, the on-line capability allowed me the opportunity to ask each student a question and require them to respond or participate in the discussion. As I stated above, if they did not respond, I would dock their class participation grade. Some students dropped the course because the on-line requirement made it too tough. (I guess they went back to their on-campus programs?) You can’t hide behind another student in the on-line classroom.

    I no longer teach on-line, only in residence and video-teleconference. Sometimes I wish my class had the rigor of an on-line program.

    I don’t know if this helps you, but I thought I would share my experience.
     
  9. eric.brown

    eric.brown New Member



    I took 1 course at UOP and didn't like it.

    The course requirements were skewed toward requiring students to login to the discussion group and post a 'substantive' post multiple times a week. The course I took required 6 posts every week...the posts could be new discussions or responses to other students posts or answering the instructors questions.

    I didn't get much out of the course and didn't continue at UOP. That being said, that was just one course...other courses may be different.
     
  10. Jigamafloo

    Jigamafloo New Member

    Or, quite possibly, Randy will get the information he wants. A lot of for profit students here, and most people generally try to help. Have a little faith. :)
     
  11. truckie270

    truckie270 New Member

    Randy,

    Here you go - directly from UOP:

    ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS

    In Online classes, attendance and participation are not the same. As explained below, the minimum requirements are different for each. In addition, please note that attendance is tracked by Online administration, whereas participation is tracked by your instructor.

    Attendance Requirements for group study and directed study:

    Attendance is taken automatically week-by-week. Remember that the Online week begins on Tuesday and ends on the following Monday. To be in attendance during a week, you must meet two requirements:

    (1) You must post at least one message to any of the class newsgroups on two different days during each week. Deadlines for attendance are based on Mountain Standard Time (MST);

    (2) you must post these messages using your OLS address.

    If your course is 1-4 weeks long and you miss ONE week of attendance, you will automatically be withdrawn and will not be eligible to earn a grade. If your course is 5-8 weeks long and you miss TWO weeks of attendance--consecutively or non-consecutively--you will automatically be withdrawn and will not be eligible to earn a grade.

    Important points to remember about attendance: Any message you post in any course newsgroup will count towards the attendance requirement, regardless of its content or quality. Any message you email to your instructor or classmates but do not post to a newsgroup will not count towards the attendance requirement. Attendance is not a graded activity, unlike participation. Meeting the attendance requirements does not
    ensure a good participation grade.

    If you fail to meet the attendance requirements by posting messages in the newsgroups, you will not be eligible for a course grade, even if you have finished assignments and have attempted to complete the course through private email or other methods. Sending assignments to your instructor privately does not make up for missed attendance. Faculty and administrative staff cannot excuse absences. If you have any questions
    about these policies, please contact your Online admissions counselor or academic counselor



    PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

    Class participation is a graded part of your course work. You must
    participate four days per week in class discussions, and quality and content will be taken into account in the grading.



    Standard UOP Participation language:

    "Participation is very important online. You will be expected to participate 4 days a week in several different discussions and to contribute at least two substantive discussion messages on each of those 4 days. This is a required part of your grade. Participation consists of notes you send above and beyond graded assignments. This generally means the messages you send as replies to messages from your classmates and me. Participation will only count in Main newsgroup".
     
  12. CargoJon

    CargoJon New Member

    Truckiek beat me to it.

    I graduated from UoP in May and when I finished up, the post requirement was 4 days per week. If you didn't, it would adversely impact your grade. Usually 10-15% of your grade was based on participation.

    Personally I enjoyed the format at experience. I do, however, agree with the poster who stated that their marketing tactics do leave a bad taste in one's mouth. As an alum I really wish they'd knock it off because it seems to me that it lowers the respectability factor of my degree.
     
  13. jimnagrom

    jimnagrom New Member

    It's a bit more complicated than that.

    The "3-5 times a week" requirement is a database-tracked "attendence" requirement - and yes you can be automatically dropped for failing to post "hi" or the equivalent. Two of these weekly "log-ons" have to have "substance" - which is subjective - but is defined as a paragraph with a reference - which the instructor is under some pressure to be lenient with - because in every UoP class, the student rate the faculty at the same time they are being graded - and poor student evaluations can mean no more PT teaching. ;)

    If you simply want the assurance of paying your money, passing your classes by posting "hi" several times a week, and eventually collecting your credential, UoP is THE place to be. ;)
     
  14. CargoJon

    CargoJon New Member

    Re: Re: University of Phoenix Online

    I would suggest that you state what qualifies you to make such a statement? I certainly did far more than write checks and post "hi" several times per week.

    What's ironic as hell is the number of people on this site who wouldn't hesitate to attend a non-RA school, but bash UoP like it's a scourge on the educational world.
     
  15. eric.brown

    eric.brown New Member

    Re: Re: University of Phoenix Online

    Speaking as someone who has taken a course at UOP, I'd say this is way off base and incorrect. The level of work involved was no different than any other school.

    As I mentioned previously, I did dislike being forced to post in the discussion groups every week even if there wasn't anything of value to add to the discussion.
     
  16. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member


    More than bashing UoP, I have always seen posts that recommend other schools as you can get the same for less money. It seems that UoP is overpriced for a non top tier school.
     
  17. CargoJon

    CargoJon New Member

    It isn't if you want to crank out a bachelor's degree in 3 years or so......I paid the price because it was worth it to me to get the degree finished in the shorter amount of time. Now I can get on to graduate work, where I actually care a good bit more about the name of the school that I obtain the degree from...
     
  18. wannabeit

    wannabeit New Member

    Re: Re: University of Phoenix Online

    I'm not a student of UOP, but I'm sure just like any other colleges there are serious students and flakey ones. How can you make this statement when you don't have any experience at this college. Are we to assumed that you have it from the "higher authority." Please!! What's up with the wink smilies? Is this a reflection of your personality? Normally, I don't like to get into personality, I'm just flabbergastic with your remarks and comments.
    Oh, before I forget, don't tell me you got your information from reading other people comments. Then again, what else is new. I'm sure you may have good intentions and you are sincere in your comments. I think sometimes you have to take a step back and look at what messages you're trying to convey.
    After all, I think this forum intention is to help people not criticize them.
     
  19. jimnagrom

    jimnagrom New Member

    Re: Re: Re: University of Phoenix Online

    I teach there - and I know several other PT faculty from Washington - Phoenix - all report the same situation ;)
     
  20. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Hey, you forgot to bash the Big Three.

    Anyway, I don't know about Phoenix, but as a point of comparison, students in online courses at Keiser College (another for-profit) must log in three times per week or lose points from the participation part of their grade, and if they have not logged in by Wednesday of the first week they are automatically dropped.

    -=Steve=-
     

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