Regents stupid name change to Excelsior

That's about it, I just don't like it at all.

 

Many may not like it but I think it tends to grow on you. "Excelsior" is the New York state motto and means "Ever Upward."

John

 

I don't like it, either--but I don't dislike it as much as I did six months ago, so I think John may be right. There's nothing intrinsically wrong with "Excelsior" as far as I'm concerned, except for the fact that it brings to mind about 30 sci-fi references, which is not necessarily the sort of name recognition I would have wanted in a perfect world.


Cheers,

Tom Head
BAL '96

 

Well, that's what I thought too. After all, why shouldn't an institution in NY not have a name that is so intrinsically bound with the state's past? I understand that some may not like the name for the former "Regent's," but in time, it will be accepted by most people.

Darren.

 

To me, Excelsior is still shredded paper packing material. I know it's the NY motto, but it's just a dumb name.

And what about the (unconfirmed) report that it was basically one influential trustee's insistence that stuck the school with that name? Certainly, from what I heard, almost none of the alumni were excited about it.

If true, it just doesn't bode well for the way the school makes decisions. Why else would a school do something that nearly all of its alums were opposed to, unless (a) it simply doesn't care what anyone thinks or (b)it allows itself to be governed by one heavyweight who apparently doesn't have much common sense?

Excelsior is about the only name for a DL school that I can think of that is worse than "Argosy," which seems to be a universal flop. Of course, since they've been through 3 names in as many years, there's no reason they can't continue the trend and choose a *good* name

 

I agree that "Excelsior" is bad, but I still think that "Argosy" takes the cake for bad school names. Excelsior reminds me of an antacid, while Argosy sounds like a skin disease.


Bruce

 

The story is unconfirmed. There was actually a strong effort, by the College, to keep the name Regents but the Board of Regents would not bend.

John

 

What was their reasoning behind this?

Did they feel that the name Regents implied something that they didn't want to imply?

Although I actually LIKE the name Excelsior I have to say that the letter they send out which explains the name change raises more questions with folks reviewing my transcripts than ever before.

 

I fully agree that the explanation on the new transcript is a dog's breakfast.

The real loss though, was the separation from the University of the State of New York, and the loss of *that* title.

I wrote a piece on the use and impact of college names that ended with a spoof case study on a suggested replacement for the "Regents College" title. This was originally penned before the change of the change to "Excelsior" was decided (or at least, made public). I again urge Excelsior College to consider a move to another state so that the CLASS word "University" may be included in the new-new title*. And a change of IDENTIFIER from "Excelsior" to "Albany" might also prove useful (since the latter confers instant reputation). They can make the change whenever they like. Now would be a good time. No need to consult alums or current students (why change the habits of a lifetime), and perish the thought management should condescend to answer any of my or anyone else's email on the subject.

"College Name Game" article at: http://www.geocities.com/ba_in_4_weeks/collegenamegame.html


* NY state regulation requires that(I believe) a minimum of two Ph.D. programs be in operation at an institution before it can consider including the word "university"
in its name.

 

You can see why the Regents rejected the notion of continuing the name: it implied a relationship that no longer existed. USNY is the Board of Regents for the state of New York. The Regents External Degree Program (later Regents College Degree Program) was operated by the Board of Regents. Hence, my three diplomas from them all say USNY. But Regents College went private; the Board of Regents no longer ran the school. They were permitted to continue using the name Regents (as Regents College) for a finite term while settling on a new name. I, for one, don't mind "Excelsior" a bit. But I, like Lawrie, am very glad to have graduated from "The University of the State of New York."

Rich Douglas

 

I second Bruce; Excelsior is cheesy but tolerable, while Argosy is just plain dreadful (worse, I think, than Darling Downs, Flaming Rainbow, etc).


Cheers,

------------------
Tom Head
www.tomhead.net

co-author, Bears' Guide to the Best Education Degrees by Distance Learning (Ten Speed Press)
co-author, Get Your IT Degree and Get Ahead (Osborne/McGraw-Hill)

 

From Merriam-Webster:

Argosy:


1 : a large ship; especially : a large merchant ship <three of your argosies are... come to harbor -- Shakespeare>
2 : a fleet of ships
3 : a rich supply <an argosy of railway folklore -- F. P. Donovan>
http://www.m-w.com/dictionary.htm

I guess I don't see what the fuss is about.

Rich Douglas

 

Hmmm...affiliating with an institution whose name means "ever upward" or with one whose name means "a large merchant ship"...hard choice to make...

Darren.

 

No fuss, I just think the "old" name (University of Sarasota) was much better. I recall that old a.e.d. participant Dennis Huber was actually considering court action to allow him & other students to graduate under the Sarasota name. I don't know what the eventual outcome was, but you'd think that would have sent a message to the PTB that the new name isn't very popular.

I just can't get the image out of my head of a dermatologist saying "Yes, put this cream on your Argosy three times a day".


Bruce

 

I agree that both "Excelsior" and "Argosy" are lousy names. But here is perhaps an unpopular opinion: I think "Capella" is a bad name too. I was hoping in would grow on me, but time doesn't seem to be working favorably in that direction.

I tend to like inconspicuous names, especially in DL schools. To me, there is less risk of drawing attention to DL schools (and there's already enough prejudice) when the names not so unusual.



------------------
David F

 

Rich Douglas pretty much summed it up in his post. It pertains to the relationship with the Board of Regents. However, this parting was on good terms and the Board of Regents granted Excelsior an "Absolute Charter" (their highest) when the two separated.

John

 

Worse than Flaming Rainbow?? Some of the more alternative CA-approved schools might like that one, I think. It probably takes some psychopharmaceuticals to fully appreciate it.

Personally, I don't love either Excelsior or Argosy, but they aren't horrible either. Just kind of sterile or something.

If you want a really bad name, check out what US International University became after it merged with California School of Professional Psychology:

Alliant International University. Sounds like a bankrupt cellphone company.

Perhaps the degree mills know something that the legitimate schools don't: students like quasi-English names: Trinity College and University. Ashington. Earlscroft. Traditional and solid. But also homey and familiar. Warnsborough... it just has to be good.

So why don't schools save the money that they are wasting on consultants and just pick up a road atlas of England. There are thousands of little villages with usable names:

Vernham, Collingbourne, Ramsbury, Whitchurch, Thruxton, Coxwell, Shefford, Highmoor Cross, Smithfield, Ockham, Oxted, Royston, Epworth, Wedmore, Adderston, Anthorn, Bradfield, Polesden, Brookwood, Halstead...

Just be very sure not to pick up an atlas of Wales by mistake, or you might get stuck with Gwyddgrug University.

 

I saw a car last month with the vanity license plate XLCOR
Possibly a graduate, or perhaps a shredded paper merchant.

 

Just be very sure not to pick up an atlas of Wales by mistake, or you might get stuck with Gwyddgrug University.

And in an atlas of Wales look up Anglesey where you will find the ideal institution title for the namedropper who has everything

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch University

(it is pronounced just as you would read it)

 

That was the same logic behind changing Charter Oak's name from whatever it was before. Apparently, the Charter Oak was a landmark at the location where Connecticut's charter was signed. It was decided to choose a name that commememorates that event. They also adopted the addition of "State College" to the name. All of which was designed to more thoroughly recognize the institution as being part of the state system of higher education.

Some have mentioned that "Charter Oak" sounds like the name of a residential treatment center. It does seem to have that ring. But most people I know seem not to get that feeling, and instead, they will ask, "What's a charter oak?" I guess they think that "charter" is a variety of oak, much like bur oak or live oak.

COSC could possibly avoid the problem by changing their name to THE Charter Oak State College (like THE George Washington University.) At least then they would ask, "What's THE Charter Oak?" And it seems like a more imparitive qualifier for COSC than for GWU, since nobody ever asks "What's a george washington, anyway?"

Tracy<><
B.S., THE Chater Oak State College, Individualized Studies, Nov '01