Excelsior Degree and Resume Question

I finally did it! My degree requirements are completed, and I will soon be graduating from Excelsior. I have read through all of the archived posts on this topic, but didn't see anything recent on the questions stated below:

1. Do the current Excelsior diplomas list "University of the State of New York"?

2. How can I list Excelsior on my resume? Is "Excelsior College, University of the State of New York" or "Excelsior College, a member of the University of the State of New York" or something like that, accurate and acceptable?

Thanks in advance,

Cazador

 

While Regents College graduates can perhaps claim graduation from USNY, I don't believe that Excelsior College graduates can do the same, since the latter is now a separate institution. But, the question that I find interesting is: Could a USNY/Regents College alumni claim graduation from Excelsior College? Any notions out there on this matter?

 

Excelsior, in a written statement to graduates, suggested that the proper method for those who graduated before the name change would be:

Excelsior University (previously The University of the State of New York or Regents College) depending on when you received your degree.

 

Just use - Excelsior College, Albany, NY



Human Resources Director
BS REGENTS (85)
ASM TESC
MAOM UOP
BSBA UOP
MBA Univ of Redlands
Ed.D Pepperdine

 

Howard,

Is it Excelsior University now?

 

Is there anyone out there who actually has a definitive answer, and who has received their degree from Excelsior College (not Excelsior University) after it became Excelsior College?

Cazador

 

I´ve recently seen (one month ago or so) an actual Excelsior Diploma, and it clearly states:

EXCELSIOR COLLEGE (with Logo)
Member of The University of The State of New York


and that is for sure.

greets,

trigger

 

Regents College became independent on 9 April 1998. Prior to that date Regents College was a constituent college of USNY. Last official conferral date of USNY degrees was 24 April 1998. Up to and including that conferral "diet", degrees could only be awarded by USNY (since Regents had no power to award degrees). Indeed, the bachelor's degree diploma issued to USNY graduates makes no mention whatsoever of Regents College. The diploma makes it clear that the degree was conferred by USNY, and USNY was the institution from which students graduated.

So, Prior to Regents separation from USNY, it is not a matter of "perhaps" claiming graduation from the University of the State of New York, USNY was the only institution from which one could legitimately claim the degree.

Neither Regents College Students who graduated May 1998 or later, nor later, Excelsior College students, could claim to have graduated from USNY since as of May 1998 Regents/Excelsior College has conferred its own degrees.

My first thought is: why would they want to? But, for the sake of clarity, the statement, "BA Regents College (now Excelsior College)", might prove helpful to those checking credentials.

On the issue of the form and wording of the current Excelsior College diploma, Peter Glaeser recently posted a temporary URL where his certificate could be viewed. Except for the substitution of the name "Excelsior" for the name "Regents", the diploma is identical to that issued to Regents College graduates post separation. That diploma has "Member of the University of the State of New York", immediately below the college name and logo. Reference to USNY appears again in the "fancy writing" bit. More importantly perhaps, the current Excelsior transcripts also have similar reference to USNY membership.

Disingenuous? You decide. More to the point, I have had more than one communication from graduate schools notifying me they were awaiting or had received my "SUNY Albany" transcripts.


Lawrie Miller, BS USNY, BS Regents College

.

 

Thanks for the info, triggersoft and Lawrie.

"EXCELSIOR COLLEGE, Member of The University of The State of New York" sounds great on a diploma and resume, imho.

This is accurate, and also important, as many people reviewing resumes most likely never heard of Excelsior College. Far from being redundant, I think this adds a great deal to the face value of a resume.

Thanks again,

Cazador

 

What adds most to the face value of the resume is the fact that most people have never heard of the University of the State of New York and think it's State University of New York, but whatever.

Congrats again.
TommyK

 

That is true, TommyK, but I still think it adds to the face value, for whatever reason. Nobody I have spoken to (I live on the left coast) has ever heard of Excelsior College, but when I tell them it is a member of the University of the State of New York, it removes any suspicion they may have had that it might be a fly-by-night degree mill (which Excelsior most certainly is NOT!).

There are a lot of bogus schools springing up, and I think there is great value in placing an accurate statement on a resume that instantly shows a potential employer that the school you went to is accredited and legit.

Cazador

 

As long as "University of the State of New York" is on the diploma it's OK to put it on a resume. But hopefully Excelsior will wisen up to the fact that this is often confused with SUNY and remove it.

 

Gert, I disagree that there is any need for them to "wisen up" to anything. If it is true that Excelsior is a "Member of the University of the State of New York" (which it is), then there is no reason not to put it on a diploma or resume.

As I stated earlier, the very legitimate reason for doing so is the fact that it provides instant assurance that the school is legitimate and officially accredited, as opposed to being some fly-by-night degree mill.

Cazador

 

My MBA transcript stated my previous education at "ST UNI of NY at Albany".

Yan BS USNY (1986)

 

Indeed, and as you will know, this general phenomenon was the subject of the article "The College Name Game", available in a thread of the same name in this board, in AED, and at http://www.geocities.com/ba_in_4_weeks/collegenamegame.html

I also conducted a straw poll back in late 1997, early 1998, which appeared in AED, on people's reactions and preferences (as a measure of utility) to "Regents College" and "University of the State of New York". Some (including Regents management and their surrogates) had held there would be no preference for the name USNY over "Regents". That did not seem likely to me. Results of this poll in AED thread "Regents USNY: Quo Vadis?" Importance of a name and its associations in terms of its effects on an institution's virtual reputation and the utility of its degrees should not be underestimated.

http://groups.google.com/groups?q=g:thl140086216d&hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&selm=34B8DE4A.7EE17F67%40ix.netcom.com

Lawrie Miller
BA in 4 Weeks

.

 

I'll never forget. Lawrie and I and some others were in a memorable a.e.d. pissing match in August, 2000, on a thread entitled "Red Herring to Reality."

Those were the days, eh?

Regards.
TommyK

 

That is a great article, Lawrie, with very valid conclusions. The survey you conducted in the linked discussion was right on the money, too.

Some DL afficionados make the mistake of thinking that potential employers have researched issues involving accreditation, school reputation, etc., to the same degree that many of us have. This is obviously not the case - presentation and perceived value are invaluable.

Cazador

 

Yes, that and the time of the preceding "Great Regents Debate", and the preceding-preceding "Quo Vadis" debate. Yet, many posts in these discussions were of value. I am not convinced they are best described as pissing matches. Least ways, not my posts <smile>

I think you expressed your opinion with some force and passion, and that was fine.