Regent University woes and ??? about Deakin University

After much searching, I applied to Regent University and had a quite an unprofessional experience. As a result I would never recommend Regent to anyone.

It began when they lost one of my recommendations and insisted that it had not been sent [that ticked off my colleague who had to fax it a second time]. Then they lost my application fee payment and insisted that I had not paid. Then they told me that a new doctoral program in education would be approved by 2003 and recanted a month later. Then after I was told over a month ago that I could begin core courses in January, I was informed last week that this is impossible and I must wait to begin with the doctoral cohort in the fall. Oh yeah -- and transcripts -- seems they placed another applicant's transcripts in my file -- still wondering where mine are. I am not going to bother sending them again.

After I sent a copy of my visa statement showing payment a month ago and intruded on a colleague's semester break to ask for a second reference to be sent, admissions finally had everything they needed. HOWEVER, in the meantime I received a letter Saturday stating that my application approval would be held up until all required documentation was received and the strong implication was that I had been dishonest in stating that all information was already there and my insistence that admissions and the business office had LOST it. An email this morning arrived stating that everything had been located and NO APOLOGY whatsoever for the screw-ups. I am disgusted with the whole thing and have withdrawn my application.

I know this sort of thing happens a lot but I've communicated at length now with four universities and NONE of them were as unorganized and unhelpful as Regent. Thumbs down for them as far as I'm concerned.

Meanwhile -- I've been looking at Deakin University's external research doctorate in education. The program appears to be high quality and the faculty with whom I have corresponded have been most helpful. There is one required visit to campus for presentation and discussion of research proposal and the travel is paid for by the university for fee-paying international students. Everything else is done via distance learning.

Does anyone know anything about Deakin? I'd appreciate any information anyone can share. There are several of us from our masters grad program who are interested in possibly pursuing this program together over the next few years.

Thanks much --
Sunnie *who is already DREADING the 25 hour flight to OZ*

aka Leslie Bowman (thought maybe it might be time to introduce myself here
http nlineteach.homestead.com

 

Geez how did that "face" appear in my URL?????? Let's try that again LOL
http://onlineteach.homestead.com

I for one will be very glad to see the new editing feature!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I am not sure how acceptable an international degree will be in the field of education. Have you considered Capella?

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Howard Rodgers

 

I know a little.

I hold two qualifications from Deakin obtained completely by distance: a Graduate Diploma of Management (ie. half an MBA) and the Certified Practising Accountant's professional program. These were obtained in the mid 1990's.

My experience at Deakin was, overall, good. They corresponded well and the course quality was high, although not consistently high.

Deakin do see themselves as a specialist in distance education delivery so they should be pretty slick. In 2000 they had about 28,000 students of which about half were distance enrolments. They have five campuses in Victoria (an Australian state - capital Melbourne.)

I'm not sure of their current standing in the Good University Guide, if that is at all relevant as the guide's objectivity has been questioned in the past. George Brown will know for sure and Peter French would have an opinion for sure. The former is a regular contributor but the latter, alas, has picked up his bat and gone home, at least for the moment. (C'mon Pete, this bloke wants to know about Deakin. You're a Melbournite; let him have it.)

Remember that the Australian tertiary education system is - although it has its warts - a good system with an internationally recognised high standing. Any degree from an Australian university would benefit from that standing.

I can't comment on their education degrees as that is not my field.

For those who want to know more, their web site can be viewed at: http://www.deakin.edu.au/
Unlike some, it is very well laid out and easy to navigate. The following site has links to all recognised Australian Universities and is worth bookmarking if you are interested: http://www.avcc.edu.au/australias_unis/individual_unis/index.htm

Good luck.


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Peter Tucker
Australia

 

I'm wondering if Sunnie's experience with Regent is really representative of how Regent University does business or is it merely an incidental comedy of errors. I'm exploring my options for a doctoral program and the Regent University PhD in Leadership is under consideration.

Has anyone else had any experience with Regent? Your comments are welcome.

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David Fraser

 

Perhaps a comedy of errors perhaps not. I do know that the attitudes of those with whom I spoke were not conducive to either helpfulness or patience. The attitude was that they were right and I was wrong -- no negotiation allowed. According to them it was MY problem and I had to fix -- there was no willingness on their part to even consider looking further. The lost documents can happen anywhere -- it's the response and effort to solve the problem that is different among schools.

I am considering others. Capella now has residence opportunities on the east coast -- which they did not have when I first looked at them last year. And I can begin work in Janaury. I can also design my degree and work at an accelerated pace if I so choose (which I do!!!). Basically it is a learner-centered institution and as a long-time educator, I am all for that!!!!!!!

We'll see

 

Going a step further -- you can tell a lot about a school by how they handle prospective student inquiries. The attitudes of admissions and business office personnel are indicative of the atmosphere of the entire institution.

Regent is regimented in both admissions processes and degree work. You do it their way and you don't question their procedures. I assume that means you don't question their course of study either. They have rules and policies and the rules will be followed. There is not room for negotiation or individualization. You begin at a certain time with a cohort and you stay with them and you all move along at the same pace doing the same thing.

Now for some this may be just fine. But I am too much of a lone ranger in the education field to allow someone else to make decisions for me. I want to have a say in what courses I take and when. I want the option to forge ahead at a faster pace than the quarter or semester system. I do NOT want to be tied down to a cohort that moves at a snail's pace through a 3 year program. That is not my idea of learning. It is my idea of jumping through hoops to get a degree.

And that, I will not do.

 

Sunnie writes, "Regent is regimented in both admissions processes and degree work."

And in campus behavior. I stayed on the campus for a few nights two years ago, when I was speaking at a home schooling conference there. On my early morning walk, I was cutting across a lawn (at perhaps 7 am) when the loudspeaker on a patrol car asked me (politely but firmly) to get off the grass. I chose not to make a stand for civil disobedience, and still I wonder . . .

"What're you in for, Louie?"

"Murder, assault, armed robbery. And you, kid?"

"Wouldn't leave the lawn three times at Regent University. Three strikes; I'm in for life."

 

LOL that clinches it then!!!!! I won't fly 25 hours for a doctoral colliquium and I won't go to jail for "walking on the grass" so I guess I'll go to Capella!!!!!

*save my place for January 7th*

 

Civil disobedience? At "700 Club University"? Not a chance.

Jerry Falwell
Liberty University

 

You know, this was PRECISELY the reason I opted not to go with CSUDH's HUX program. Bad, bad, bad customer service. Hopefully it's changed as I haven't been in contact with them for about two years.

Steven King

 

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Sunnie,

You can't go wrong with Deakin, very solid, one of the Pacific rim's finest.
http://www2.deakin.edu.au/bowater/

Good luck!

CFr
(Deakin MBA DL student)

 

I agree that. I completed my DL Graduate Diploma of Business (Accounting) in early 1990s from the Deakin U. (Warrnambool). From my past experience, its supporting service is very satisfactory.

 

In the fall of 1995, I was reprimanded by Jerry Falwell at Liberty University for walking across the grass. Perhaps this whole "don't walk on the grass" thing is part of a vast, right-wing conspiracy. Hm...

 

This thread illustrates an essential component of a good nontraditional school - good ol' customer support.

Time Travel Moment - 1996: I was scouring the ends of the earth (RA only, so I guess that was only in the US , looking for a Ph.D. program that would fit my needs. At that time, Regent was just getting their program off the ground. However - try as I might - I could not get solid, timely information. No responses for weeks, and answers to my question were *extremely* vague.

My experience with Fielding was completely different. When asking questions, I got immediate, accurate and detailed responses - from the Dean no less.

Even though I was intrigued with Regents, I selected Fielding. A major reason was 'customer support'.

Fortunately, by this time I had years of experience in DL land. I learned to value outstanding customer support, making it a priority in program selection.

Bottom Line: If you want to graduate and if you want to do it without developing stress related illnesses , make sure your RA school (had to get that in) provides topnotch customer support. This includes:
- timeliness (fast, fast, fast)
- accuracy (information and records)
- "looking-out-for-student-ness" (a fancy, dancy doctoral term that means someone is making sure you're on the right academic track)
- genuine concern for health and well-being of the student (emotional, physical, mental)
- IT support: Keep it all electronic, have a modern, up-to-date information system (web-enabled preferred)

I'm sure there is more. Thoughts anyone else?

Good customer support will (a) get you done in less time, and (b) support a much more enjoyable experience.

Barry Foster

PS: I'm dang glad I picked Fielding!! Their support structure was *always* topnotch - from my opening event to my graduation.

 

I was enrolled in CSUDH-HUX at that time, and this post combined with my experience suggests some things.

First of all, customer service is in the eye of the beholder. At the exact same time that Steven was dissatisfied, I thought that good customer service from HUX was one of the strong points of their operation. Perhaps they just wanted to see the rear end of me, but I probably wouldn't have graduated without their able assistance towards the end.

Second, my experience, Steven's and Sunnie's are based on a very small sample of the countless contacts that these offices have with their students every day. Some contacts are very successful, others not. So our opinions may be skewed greatly by events that are atypical.

Third, these cases make me wonder how reliable apocryphal newsgroup reports are for evaluating these things. Sample sizes are too small, events too unique and reactions to them too individual.

Fourth, different students seem to have very different expectations. One student wants a simple straightforward system and quick efficient support when it inevitably breaks. Another student might want lots of emotional support and advice. A program optimized for "fast and efficient" might not satisfy somebody in search of "caring and personal", and vice versa.

Lastly, I have to admit that these kind of personal reports are probably the best thing that a prospective student has to go on. I'm just not sure how to weight them.

 

This is a very good point - thanks for bringing it up. Perhaps distance learning information at individual institutions should include a list of references from both current students and graduates.

For the record - I hate those "read what graduates say about our program" blurbs on college websites. I'm not sure how else it could be done but a personal recommendation from a grad would carry a lot more weight with me than some quote on a webpage.

I think that's why people ask here for personal experiences with institutions. It's not a "sale" by the college, but an honest report on one's personal experience in dealing with admissions and/or a specific educational program. Academics and technology are both important -- if either fall below the acceptable range then a program would not be worth pursuing.

There seems to be no other means of finding out at this point except to ask here

 

I’m sorry to hear about your further aggravations with higher learning institutions, Sunnie. DeVRY in Chicago lost two copies of my high school diploma, which apparently was required for the intellectually challenging “Electronic Technician” program. I gained admission to this fine institution by going to my old high school in Evanston, IL and hand carrying an unofficial copy of my high school transcript to DeVRY admissions. Since I was obviously a gentleman , a scholar and a paying customer, the admissions councilor, who looked like the pimply-faced Krustyburger employee on the Simpsons, pounded my transcript with a red rubber stamp that said something like “I swear all the crap on this piece of paper is true” and asked me to sign the transcript. Voila! I was admitted to DeVRY.

Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) lost several of my transcripts when I applied for admission. The admissions people were pretty nice about everything, even though they did not admit losing any of my records. “Sorry, we don’t have anything from …” they would tell me. They also didn’t have any red rubber stamps, and no, they could not make an admissions decision without all my transcripts. Really, I wanted them to act snotty so I could feel justified in being pissed off at them. Eventually, after repeated tries, all the proper records congealed in the admissions office and I was duly admitted.

Recently, IIT has dug up some money from somewhere and is busy spending it giving the campus a much needed sprucing up. Many of the “dead grass” trails where people actually walk were converted to official gravel paths, so I no longer need to walk on the grass when visiting main campus. IIT security never asked me to get off the grass, but if they had I would have moved quickly. I never argue with a man carrying a glock.

 

Barry,

When I complete the Ph.D. at PUCHE, since it is not RA, will I still be able to post on DegreeInfo.com?

I was thinking that since my BA, MA & D.Min. are all RA, and a PUCHE Ph.D. is considered by AACRAO as being equivalent to a RA Ph.D., I would still enjoy dropping by the forum periodically.

Russell