Continental University agents for UNISA

From the Unisa site link, there is a table showing worldwide collabortion schools and agents for the UBISA programs.

http://www.unisa.ac.za/dept/col/parties.html

Continental university in Texas is listed as an agent for UNISA. When you visit Continental's site, they are straight up and say they are not accredited, however (a diploma mill at best, maybe?)
they carefully say that they offer programs in other ways.

Not much to see at Continental, no courses, other than brief descriptors, and examples of fees.

UNISA agents, offer for a BA ($93/Unit), Masters at $780/year.

John Roberts Ph.D (London ICST)

 

Continental University (which was new to me) was established by John Craparo, who is the US agent for the University of South Africa.

Here is quite a thorough and candid article about the establishing of the university in the Lemmon Leader, the newspaper of the metropolis of Lemmon, South Dakota (population 1,398). Craparo says he wants to bring education to rural areas; that real estate in Lemmon is really cheap (there is a house for sale on Main Street for $14,000); and that South Dakota laws are lenient (and he does have provisional permission from the state to operate. In late July, the article said, there was one student enrolled.

The article:
http://www.lemmonleader.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=76&SectionID=118&SubSectionID=251&S=1

Lemmon-cam: a panoramic view of Main Street
http://www.dakota-web.com/lemmon/3dfrontdoor/frontdoor.html

 

I just phoned the South Dakota and the Texas numbers. They were each answered, in effect, "Hello, you can leave a message at the tone," one a female voice, one a male. No mention of the university.

 

So, what does this mean? UNISA deals with diploma mills? Avoid Unisa? ... ?

 

Javad, nothing in this thread reflects what was said in your posting Vis-a-Vis where you will do your doctorate.

This thread is dealing with Continental University (not real) and others that are for real, legitimate or otherwise.

The fact that UNISA uses agents around the world, like the one in BC, Canada, doesnt really matter since the registration of a candidate is ultimately UNISA responsibilty and decision.

There are people on the threads of this site that completed BA/BS and Masters at UNISA, which it would appear all is well with UNISA.

Why not ask them by posting a new thread of their experiences with UNISA?

Back to your personal issue, the board is trying to help you, and not trying to send you off in space with their own experiences.

The banter that goes on and the personal jabs are suppose to be in good fun, but down to a real personal issue like yours become very serious, which we hope provides you with good advice (your comment I believe).

I for one would not want to see anyone get a Bum rap, spend money the wrong way, and least of all have you get a degree that you are not proud to show and one that will get you what it is you where after in the first place.

Cheers.

John Roberts Ph.D (London ICST)

 

On the general subject of international agents for UNISA:

I wonder what function these agents are intended to serve. Are they intended to increase foreign student enrollment in UNISA? Does UNISA even *want* foreigners to enroll?

If they do, then they need to devote a lot more attention to choosing their agent in the United States, which could be a very large and lucrative market for them. John Craparo was a fine participant on the old aed, but he seems to be failing as a university representative. If it turns out that he is operating his own little non-accredited "university" as well, this could turn into a real embarassment for UNISA.

More fundamentally, UNISA needs to clarify in their own minds whether they want to be a South African domestic institution, an African regional institution, or a fully international institution. In the latter case, they need to streamline their bureaucracy. They also need to create some marketing. At present, the only place that prospective foreign students are exposed to UNISA is on a few informal discussion groups like Degreeinfo.

But they aren't even going to be able to address that stuff until the current rather extreme and disruptive overhaul of South African higher education is completed and the waves die down. They are probably kind of paralyzed right now.

 

Continental University and other things

Hello to all ... after several years off the discussion boards:

I received a call from a gentleman today who did not identify himself. He wanted to know more about my relationship with Unisa and about study for a doctorate in Computer Science. During the discussion he asked about Continental University and its relationship to Unisa.

Continental is a long story and things are well explained in the article posted by Dr. John Bear. We are not a diploma mill, but we are a non-accredited school which will seek accreditation when we are qualified to do so. That is clearly explained on the website at http://www.continentalu.com Things have to start somewhere, and I do not know of any institution which has won instant accreditation outside of Touro International...

I would be happy to discuss Continental and Unisa with anyone interested. I can be reached at [email protected].

In addition, I am online every Wednesday night and would gladly chat with any number of parties. The chat board is listed under the eClassrooms section of the Continental website.

Thanks,
John

 

Not having much knowledge on the area, I cannot comment on Continental U, etc... but thank you for the clarification.

One note though: I am the person trying to decide between Universities, and several folks are helping me out. Thank you to all of them. BUT I did NOT call you. I would have introduced myself.

 

Methinks that AED and Degreeinfo are breeding grounds for degree mill operators (smiley). First, it was Emir Mohammed and now it is John Craparo. Both started as genuine DL aficionados and later developed to become DL experts. The difference between John and Emir is that John is not a coward. He is at least courageous enough to post on this board.
Welcome back John. Uhmm, I have to say that this mill thing is troubling to me.

 

When did unaccredited come to mean Diploma Mill

Ike,

Thanks for not calling me a coward : ) Why do you characterize what I am doing as a mill? We are not selling degrees? I would appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks,
John

 

I believe that SD is still one of the most favorite places for operating degree mills. Also, it appears that the state officials are not enforcing some of the state laws that were meant to prevent degree mills from operating in SD. I have to confess that I did not look at Continental’s web site before my previous post. I have now scanned through the web site and it appears that Continental’s degree is actually a UNISA degree. In other words, UNISA awards the degree at present. If so, it is hardly a mill. Correct me if I am wrong.

Ike

 

Thanks for looking more closely. I am not sure what SD is doing to enforce the law. It does look like some operators did leave the State. I assume that someone or some agency made that happen. The fines for non-compliance are pretty steep...$25,000 per infraction.

You are correct, if we cannot reach accreditation, and the student completes the coursework which qualifies them for a Unisa degree, the degree will be awarded by Unisa. If they complete the Continental University Core (ten courses more than the Unisa BS), then they will qualify for the Continental degree. Once we reach accreditation, the only degree awarded will be from Continental.

You may have also noted that the only degree we offer is in Computer Science. We are not attempting to boil the ocean and offer lots of programs that cannot be supported properly.

Thanks,
John Craparo

 

And both went to the LL.M. program at the University of Strathclyde....hmmmmm........

Seriously, knowing John a little bit (from a.e.d. and e-mail), I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise.


Bruce

 

Ike: I believe that SD is still one of the most favorite places for operating degree mills.

John: No longer, Ike. They moved remarkably fast to pass a law that got all the bad guys to leave town (not that they'd ever been there physically anyway). Because of that, the fact that Continental has specifically been given permission to operate is, to me, impressive.

I had a long phone talk with John Craparo this afternoon (we had met in person a few years ago). I remain convinced of his honesty and integrity. I have expressed concern, as have many others, about his efficiency in communicating with inquirers and critics over the years. I hope he will be a regular here on DegreeInfo. He is a very senior executive with a very large computer manufacturer, which clearly fills his time rather thoroughly, which is probably a factor. He really was attracted to Lemmon, SD, and spoke very fondly of it. For the record, all of the phonies who pretended to be in South Dakota chose mailboxes in Rapid City or elsewhere as far south as you can get, near the large cities of Iowa. Lemmon is way up north, near the North Dakota line (one gets there by flying to Bismarck and driving 120 miles). Not an easy place. But John has bought property there, and seems very pleased at the prospects.

I can't really speak to the "Why start your own school" matter -- other than to acknowledge that there is something that seems to come over otherwise rational human beings, that moves them to want to give this sort of thing a try. I make no apologies for having been in that particular wobbling canoe three times in 25 years, and there are still times when I have to say to Marina, when certain business plans come wafting by, "Stop me before I do it again . . ."

Perhaps there is a business in starting a 12-step program for would-be school starters. If the urge comes over you, you call the emergency number, and people rush over to try to talk you out of it.

My name is John, and I was a school-starter

 

Thanks so much, John, for your insight regarding Continental and your confidence in my sincerity and integrity. I look forward to making this school and those attending it very successful. Your taking the time to lay your thoughts out means a great deal to me.

I will take your strong counsel regarding improving communications and create an action plan which improves customer service on the agency side of what I am doing with Unisa and of course head off any impending problems with Continental University.

I will once again be a regular contributor here and hopefully regain the trust of those I may have disappointed.

All the best,
John

 

Mr. Craparo - Is there any chance that your department has an opening for someone with several years of IT consulting and startup experience, and on track to complete an MS in CS by May 2003?

 

Hi Gary,

We are not offering any programs beyone the BS at this time. I would imagine you might be able to find a program that allows you to use your background to accelerate the completion of an MS. Have you considered doing a degree in another discipline that allows you to concentrate in an area allied to your area of interest? Perhaps one of the short MBA programs with a specialization in Information Systems?

John

 

Gary,

I just realized that I gave you an incorrect answer to your question. You can let me know more, in private, about your credentials, etc. Thanks, John

 

Continental is certainly not a mill, and it's a shame that people would suggest that it is without more care.

I think the problem that Continental will have is that their degree requires a LOT of work compared to the norm in the U.S. How many people in the U.S. will want to spend years doing the Continental/Unisa degree when every home-grown DL Computer Science degree that I have seen would be much easier and much shorter?