University of Northwest Florida article

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Jason Vorderstrasse, Feb 5, 2002.

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  1. Jason Vorderstrasse

    Jason Vorderstrasse New Member

  2. Chip

    Chip Administrator

    I'm sorry, but the woman running this fraud has got to have the IQ of a head of lettuce.

    First, she is operating the thing from her home address. At the very least, she should have learned how to hide herself at least a little bit.

    Second, she's doing it in Florida, a state that is not at all favorable to fraudulent schools. I am quite certain that a couple of well-placed calls to the appropriate Florida authorities will have someone showing up on her doorstep in no time. Given their interest in MIGS, I'm sure that Leah Allen's little fraud will be of interest as well.

    Third, offering no-work doctoral degrees in counseling psychology? This crazy woman is potentially opening herself up to lawsuits from the unsuspecting victims of her unqualified doctoral "graduates."

    Fourth, she's running her site on HyperMart? An advertiser-supported service? No one in their right mind would take seriously a school, fraudulent or not, that runs on the equivalent of GeoCities.

    So... here's another contest: How long it will be before (a) the address on the site changes, (b) the site goes away entirely, (c) the disclaimers on the site change?

    If she reads this forum, probably instantly... but unfortunately for her, the site has already been permanently archived for review by State authorities.
     
  3. drwetsch

    drwetsch New Member

    I read the article and Ms. Allen is certainly delusional -- her motto is: Buy Degree, Feel Better. However, one may not feel so good when that time bomb goes off. One can claim that they earned the degree through long e-mails with Ms. Allen. :eek:

    John
     
  4. PaulC

    PaulC Member

    A PhD with only fiveteen years experience...

    I love this particular requirement, cut from the web site:

    "Requirements: BS/BA + fiveteen years work experience"
     
  5. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    She's selling two very valuable things: A lie, and someone who will back up the lie. Essentially, it's "Here's your diploma. Have them call me if they question it."

    I'm against life experience credit. I feel undergraduate credits based upon life experience should be based upon demonstrated knowledge instead. If you got that knowledge via life experience, fine. But demonstrate it. But this isn't that. This is a diploma mill, selling pieces of paper and a promise to lie on your behalf.

    I would hope Florida pursues this.


    Rich Douglas
     
  6. Leslie

    Leslie New Member

    What about life experience credit at the graduate level for adults who have been working in their field for umpteen years and just could not afford the time or $$$$$ to get a higher degree?

    Devil's advocate here if you don't mind -- I am not into research. I teach and design courses on the graduate level. I have no desire to get into research. I teach, plain and simple. Period. And I am among the best at what I do -- I teach teachers :)

    Now here's the thing that bothers me -- I've taken grad courses and earned my masters degree and I swear this is the truth -- I know (and knew then) much more than 95% of my grad professors -- all of whom had not set foot in a classroom in a gazillion years.

    Yet in only a few states can I teach at the grad level with a masters degree. ALL universities want phd types for grad teaching AND for undergrad teaching. I would be willing to bet serious money that I know more about teaching than 95% of them know.

    International DL degrees aside for a moment -- why should I spend upwards of 35K or more to get a phd when I already know 100% of what is being taught in grad courses in my area of expertise just to be able to satisfy some arbitrary "have to have a doctorate"?

    I read new research constantly and as a result I keep up with the "newest" in classroom education -- most of which is nothing but hogwash anyway to satisfy new standards that are also nothing but hogwash mostly. I write articles about distance learning and education. I have been interviewed about DL by a widely visited educational website (to be published next month). I am a moderator of a DL forum on a teachers' website. I teach online courses for teachers in many different areas of education. So why should I devote the next 5 years to research for a dissertation that will do me no good except earn a doctorate so I can teach at the grad level?

    *sigh* off the soapbox now -- academia is a political racket and reform is desperately needed in higher ed.

    Thanks for letting me vent!!
    Leslie
     

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