If someone says that many Degree Info members are super critical of RA 100% doctoral degree programs offered by online-only schools, would such assumption be right or wrong? As of late, it seems more commentators see a lot of things wrong with getting online doctorates from online-only schools. At the same time, many of us are either pursuing our degrees to eventually do adjunct work at some of these schools (or are teaching at other online schools already) that many of us discourage folks from attending, or are consistently "beating down." The question I have is: How ethical is it that we bash the very schools that many of use hope to earn money from as adjuncts. Also, why is it that we all want to attend B & M schools, but we don't have problems earning money from people who attend online schools, which many of us stay aware from? Are some of us ethically bankrupt? And if you are guilty of this, would you readily accept that it is bad to "bite the very finger that feeds you?" Or one that will potentially feed you when you eventually earn your doctoral degree?
You bring up some good points Cyber. How about this: do you think it is unethical for a teacher to work in a low income urban neighborhood but refuse to send her children to the school where she works?
Eh, I think the arguments really are: 1. Look around at your options before you jump into an online doctorate. In all cases with an online doctorate you're paying tuition. In most cases with a B&M Doctorate you're getting a stipend. If you can afford to live on 30k a year or if you have a significant other that is willing to pick up the slack, it's almost never a better option to go online if you can get into a brick and mortar or reasonable reputation. (Granted, I know many won't want to stop their careers to go back to school, or can't. Then do the online doctorate - you're their demograph) 2. If you're personally opposed to going to an online doctoral program but you're willing to teach at one, you're really making the choice to help the academically less fortunate while making a buck. No it's not a moral or ethical issue, any more than people going to Harvard Law and choosing to work in public service in exchange for having loans forgiven. IT
Cyber - I think you may be over-generalizing a bit on this one. There are only a couple of schools I know of that offer a 100% RA online-only Doctorate degree, one of which has been the focus of most of this criticism here as of late. I have been a student at that school in the Doctoral program, so my comments have been made from my experiences. I can tell you with 100% certainty that I would never work for that school based on my experiences with it and its reputation in general. I would have no problem attending a 100% online Doctorate from many other online-only schools if they were offered. I have no problem earning adjunct income from online-only schools and see no ethical issues with my choices to earn degrees from B&M schools. You have to remember that there are several different interests represented on this board. Many people want a degree only to which I have no problem advocating a program from an online-only school to meet that need if it works for the person. There is also a large group here who want to move into adjunct and faculty work - I make no bones about my belief that a B&M program is by far the best route to accomplish this goal if possible. Right or wrong, the stigma behind online-only degrees is strong enough to serve as a barrier to entry for many into teaching - even at online-only institutions.
Great point! My kids attend private school and there are several other parents who are school teachers in a large school district in the area that is far from low-income. I also have several friends who are public school teachers as well and send their kids to private schools because these teachers see first-hand the obstacles to success in a public school system.
Why does it have to be "she?" :joke: No, I don't think it's unethical. You can work to serve those less fortunate without requiring your children to endure the same hardships.
While I can't speak for others, my objection to RA online doctoral programs in general is that the business model is based on false advertising and denial of service... Many students are accepted and told that they are enrolled in a "doctoral program" when, in fact, they are taking some classes and are in no way more eligible (than upon acceptance to the program) to receive the final degree after several years of tuition payments and hard work. The RA online doctoral program isn't exactly a Ponzi scheme either; it probably best resembles a raffle, where successive tuition payments can be likened to purchasing raffle tickets and thereby slightly increase one's chance of receiving said degree, which has most likely already been earned. Where the RA online doctoral program differs from a raffle or sweepstakes is that those enterprises are governed by sweepstakes laws in most states that generally require the odds of winning (10% for RA online doctoral programs) to be posted prominently along with game rules, etc.
Guy, we all know your position, you don't need to continually voice it here, especially when you've been asked numerous times to provide evidence to back your position and refuse to do so. You have a theory that you have no way of proving. We know where you stand, you don't need to remind us every couple of days.
If there is no evidence that 90% of RA Online Doctoral students don't graduate, then why do you bother to respond in hopes of discrediting it? Not to be impolite, but you might find better uses for your time...
Probably the most ridiculous thing someone with nearly 2500 posts on a forum can say is that someone else is wasting their time.
I know this is tangential to the op, but I agree completely. My peer group cannot comprehend how I can rationalize teaching in a public school and homeschooling my son. I have no difficulty with the concept. If I am able to provide my son with an exceptional, rather than adequate, educational experience in childhood, then why should my chosen profession matter?
