Southwest Airlines: Home of the Flying Degree Mill

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Rich Douglas, Apr 18, 2002.

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  1. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Southwest Airlines, like most airlines, publishes an in-flight magazine. These magazines always seem to have one or more unaccredited schools advertised. Well, Southwest lists its top advertisers in a variety of categories at http://www.spiritmag.com/media/top_spirit_advertisers.php .

    The list of schools is excerpted below:


    Berne University
    California Coast University
    Century University
    Colorado State University
    Columbia Southern University
    Columbus University
    Lacrosse University
    Pepperdine University
    Robert Kennedy University Emir, is that you? ;)
    Southern Methodist University
    University of California, Berkley
    University of Houston
    University of Maryland
    University of Texas, Austin



    Six of the best schools in the world. Okay, seven if you count UC "Berkley." (Could they really mean the less-than wonderful "University of Berkley"?):rolleyes:
     
  2. Airline magazines are as bad as USA Today. A couple years ago at an AACIS conference in Austin, I gave a presentation on frauds and encouraged everyone to check the airline magazine when they flew home, and put their business cards (for legitimate programs) in the magazines or write in the URLs of legitimate programs.
     
  3. Chip

    Chip Administrator

    One of our ideas that will be coming a bit later on is to start a "hall of shame" column, updated on a regular basis, highlighting publications with the highest number of less-than-wonderfuls and degree mills.

    We'll ask our readers to nominate publications they've found that have a large number of phony or less-than-wonderful schools, then (after contacting the publication to see if they have any interest in establishing a policy to ensure that only quality programs advertise) do press releases announcing the hall of shame. The idea being that if enough visibility is broght to bear on the worst offenders, they'll probably be encouraged to change their policies, ala the USA today attempt of some years ago.

    Looks like USA Today, The Economist, and most of the airline mags will top the list, but let's open it up for nominations.
     
  4. drwetsch

    drwetsch New Member

    USAirways 'Attache has been one of hte best. I have seen a couple of issues where they have a distinct education section. This section typically profiles accredited executive business program. Cal Coast makes it in there too but most of the schools are accredited.

    John
     
  5. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Here they are Rich:

    Berne University
    Century University
    Lacrosse University
    Robert Kennedy University
    ......
    .............

    How am I doing so far? ;)
     
  6. cdhale

    cdhale Member

    Well, I will be on Lufthansa in about 8 weeks... I'll have to check their literature and see what is offered.... If I can remember to do so with 2 kids on a trans-atlantic flight :eek:

    clint
     
  7. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    If I ever had the attention of an executive of Southwest (or other airlines whose magazines run ads for nonwonderful schools), I might show them an ad, and ask how they'd feel if they saw that in a consumer magazine:
    ------------------------------
    FLY COLUMBIA STATE AIRLINES

    FAA Certification is unnecessary for nontraditional airlines like us. Don't be fooled by the 'big guys' who are trying to run us out of business.

    We are licensed as a crop dusting service by the state of Montana, and accredited by the International Airline Accreditation Association of Beebe, Arkansas.

    Our comfortable 5-passenger Mooney Mite is inspected annually by a degree-holding engineer.

    Perfect safety record since February 3rd, and that wasn't our fault.

    First class service at third class prices. $199.95 anywhere we fly.

    Call 1-800-PARACHUTE. The operator is standing by.
    -----------------------------------
     
  8. Gus Sainz

    Gus Sainz New Member

    Flying Degree Mill?

    Indeed, all degree mills are inextricably tied to aviation.

    At the very moment the state they are located in changes their lax educational regulations, they must be able to take flight.

    Their degree holders must have his or her head up in the clouds concerning the utility of the degree. (Being flighty is a condition for enrollment.)

    Those who hold degrees from mills hope to fly under the radar, but inevitably will crash and burn once his or her credentials are exposed.

    Last, but not least, the obvious: degree mills are fly-by-night operations.
     
  9. Guest

    Guest Guest

    As a frequent flyer myself I have noticed some of the amusing adds in their magazine. The less than reputable schools probably make money from unknowing or lazy executives and others.

    North

     
  10. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Re: Re: Southwest Airlines: Home of the Flying Degree Mill

    While flying isn't the glamorous activity it used to be (take a look what they're wearing in airports these days), it still skews to the high side of incomes. People who read in-flight magazines, I suspect, have higher-than-average incomes. Since a main reason for pursuing a degree from an unaccredited school is self-satisfaction, readers of said magazines probably have higher-than-average egos as well.
     

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