Why does everyone refer to "the big 3" as...well..."the big 3" and not just by their names? What makes THEM "the big 3" over any other online college? I've always wondered, so I thought I would ask.
I think it's just easier to say "the big 3" instead of typing out "Charter Oak State College, Thomas Edison State College, and Excelsior College" every time someone wants to mention the three assessment schools. These three colleges let students transfer in nearly all degree requirements (with the exception of one or two courses) and then graduate. They are also referred to as the "assessment schools" because they primarily assess college credits earned from other schools and then award a degree when all degree requirements have been met. These three schools are also very generous in accepting non-traditional sources of credit such as challenge exams, ACE evaluated training, and portfolio assessment. The Big 3 are unique amongst institutions of higher learning in the United States because of their unmatched flexibility in degree completion.
I hear Patten University is similar in approach to what the current "Big 3" does. Might a Big 4th be in the cards?
This school? ..... On Campus and Online Liberal Arts Degree Programs | Patten University If so, their WASC accreditation is currently on probation.
Patten University was formerly a small, not-for-profit, religious school in Oakland, California. It is regionally accredited, but currently on WASC probation. In June 2012, it was acquired by UniversityNow, and has become a secular, for-profit school. WASC has issued a Public Statement about the probation and the ownership change. UniversityNow also owns New Charter University (formerly Andrew Jackson University), which is DETC accredited. So RA Patten and NA New Charter are now sister schools. Some interesting analysis of the Patten situation here: - Since Patten is currently on academic probation, and is currently undergoing major changes in ownership and focus, it may not be in quite the same league as the well-established Big Three at this time. Patten issued fewer than 100 degrees in 2010-2011 (according to College Navigator), but the new ownership may have plans to expand.
The school that is most like the "Big 3" might be Athabasca University, which is the largest online school in Canada, and which also holds US regional accreditation. My impression is that Athabasca may be better than the Big 3 for credit transfer from Canadian schools, but may not be as good as the Big 3 for credit transfer from US schools.
You know, I've never really looked into Athabasca too much. How is it like the "Big 3?" Do they allow you to transfer in nearly all of your degree requirements from other sources to graduate? How are they with non-traditional sources of credit (challenge exams, portfolio assessment, ACE evaluated credits, etc)?
In the US, a bachelor's degree is normally a 4-year degree, but in Canada it can be either 3 or 4 years. From a DL perspective, Athabasca is primarily noted for its very flexible 3-year "Bachelor of General Studies" degree, which is quite popular in Canada: Athabasca has a well established system for "Prior Learning and Assessment Recognition", including portfolio assessment. However, it differs from the US system; for example, they have their own challenge exams.
@AV8R & CalDog, Whoa, I missed that one on Patten somehow. The For-Profit hunt remains in season, eh?
