Brick and Mortar learner needs help with choosing online learning institution!!!

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by bluenevus, Aug 23, 2003.

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  1. bluenevus

    bluenevus New Member

    I know this has been asked several times but the answers have been general thus far. I am really looking for details as to the online learning experience particularly at NCU. Was it valuable? Was the mentor helpful? How much interaction was there? Schoolwork, text books, papers etc. I am seeking a PhD in Business Admin. I have 3 Masters from "brick and mortar" Universities therefore I have no idea what the "online" learning experience is like.

    I must say, I enjoyed my "brick and mortar" learning experience. The interaction, instruction, current text, peers, workgroups, assignments and tests has proven most valuable and relevant. I apply it every day in real world management decisions. I can recall an example a teacher made, the experience a fellow student described or processes a textbook recommended. Will I get that at NCU or at other online institutions? Will I just assimilate what a text book describes or is there interaction that brings experience and context to the words?

    I would appreciate any details as to the online experience particularly at NCU. Universities like UoP, Capella, Touro international and Walden are also welcomed. Recommendations are strongly welcomed as I am still in the discovery phase of where to learn. I just chose NCU because it was most affordable next to Touro therefore price matters.

    Thanks

    Frank
     
  2. Andy Borchers

    Andy Borchers New Member

    Frank - Besides the schools you've listed, I'd encourage you to look for schools that blend on-line and on-campus experience. The world isn't black and white (e.g. B&M or DL) - there are some alternatives that offer blended opportunities.

    Notably, I've graduated from Nova Southeastern University which has a popular short residency program in their School of Business (SBE). In my 4.5 year journey I spent some 75 days in residency in addition to electronic communications. I found the experience to be very positive. I really liked the face to face interaction with peers and faculty.

    You may want to look at some local programs - such as Case Western's EDM program (in Cleveland), Golden Gate (San Francisco), Lawrence Tech (Detroit area), Cleveland State (Cleveland), UMUC (Maryland) and others that welcome part-time students.

    Regards - Andy
     
  3. bluenevus

    bluenevus New Member

    Thanks, I appreciate the feedback. I Took a look at those schools and the residency requirements are too high (too frequent). Now certainly if I was in state or the residency was more like UoP (1 -2 weeks a year) I ciould attend. I'm in the Army and can't go to residencies as often as NSU or UMUC requires.

    Frank
     
  4. bluenevus

    bluenevus New Member

    Vinipink

    Vinipink,

    If you're out there, can you describe your NCU esperience? Please? What are the courses like? What is the web "online" component like? How are the mentors? How much interaction is is there? Tests, papers, books...anything?

    Frank
     
  5. manjuap

    manjuap New Member

    At least the courses i have taken at NCU .. the faculty interaction is very minimal ( i did not even get a welcome letter from my faculty in my second course and there were no discussion thread started by the faculty or the students. One of the students told that the faculty woul give grades depending on the length of the assignment not the content quality).
    Text books are old and discussion forum is very premitive in design. They do not use WEBCT or Blackboard.. they have developed their own (probably borrowed from SCUPS.edu).
    Overall very easy program to complete.... looks like the program is designed for a 9th grader.

    NCU's association with Universities United (MILL ??)

    http://universitiesunited.com/united/p1.html

    When i brought this up to their (NCU)attention .. i was told that

    Dr. Julie Huang, Regional Director
    Northcentral University
    Prescott, AZ 86301
    (626) 272-4898 [cell]]
    [email protected]

    Dr. Michael R. Black, Dean
    Northcentral University
    Prescott, AZ 86301
    (760) 578-1355 [cell]
    [email protected]

    are not associated with NCU.

    May be these two individuals sell NCU diplomas for a fraction of the actual cost ! ??:(
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 24, 2003
  6. Bill Hurd

    Bill Hurd New Member

    :mad:My experience with NCU (4 courses in the PhD program) was disappointing. I found the feedback from instructors to be minimal, and felt that anything I wanted to do to demonstrate "mastery" of a course was acceptable. I had absolutely no contact with other learners, and would not characterize any of the instructors as mentors.

    :) In contrast, my online experience with Baker College (completed MBA in 2000) was positive and rewarding.

    Bill H
     
  7. bluenevus

    bluenevus New Member

    I read in some other post that at the end of each course was a few review questions to answer and that is it. From everyone's response (and other threads) there is no interactions, no assignments per se, no papers, no mentoring...just a self paced program that offers little to the learner than a piece of paper and a title. Does that sum up the NCU learning experience pretty well? Correct me if I'm wrong. I cannot stomach $30k to "teach myself a phD" for a RA piece of paper. No don't get me wrong, I am an adult learner with a full time job and family and can appreciate a lighter work load however this seems to be unreasonable. I need value and it doesn't look like NCU provides value to the learner. I would go so far as to say this is simply a RA Degree Mill (boy that's an oxymoron). This isn't learning, it is simply checking the block to obtain a phD to have a phD.

    Frank
     
  8. manjuap

    manjuap New Member

    Did you bring this up with the university?
     
  9. manjuap

    manjuap New Member

    Did you bring this up with the university?
     
  10. manjuap

    manjuap New Member

    Did you bring this up with the university?
     
  11. Vinipink

    Vinipink Accounting Monster

    Re: Vinipink

    Sorry for the late answer!

    Check your PM

    Regards!
     
  12. Vinipink

    Vinipink Accounting Monster




    At leats Dr. Black was a mentor at NCU before the thing hit the fan! Now, he was removed from the mentors list.

    He don't feel bad bad When I was at Upper Iowa University the did not send my a welcome letter. Called them and demanded one which the mailed quickly. The Students services was and still is bad, I have to called them severals time to get my Diploma which was overdued for more than a month and now for my transcripts.

    So far NCU sent me a welcome letter at the time of acceptance and mentor have interact with me, I think they listen to our complaints and recomendations.
     
  13. Vinipink

    Vinipink Accounting Monster

    And the student ID was sent to me two months after I graduated(I was there for two years) from UIU! That is what I call slow services!
     
  14. Bill Hurd

    Bill Hurd New Member

    Yes, to no avail.

    Bill
     
  15. bluenevus

    bluenevus New Member

    Thanks for the feedback. I'm certainly crossing NCU off my list. I did some more homework and it looks like NSU is the school for me. Not only is it a reputable institution, it has a mature distance learning program with a proven track record. Particularly, there is interaction between the student and teacher...what I am paying for. Of course, since I am a health care provider, they seem to cater to my profession in particular. I believe their curriculum is focused on issues relevant to today's health care forum and will broaden my horizon with the least amount of courses to meet the objective. The residency is certainly reasonable 1 week (for 3 summers) and tuition about $24k far lower than other distance education institution. I would sum up

    1. Quality curriculum
    2. Student Teacher interaction
    3. Mature process/Proven Track Record
    4. Very reputable institution
    5. Program designed for Health Care Professionals
    6. Low Cost
    7. Very Low residency

    Frank
     
  16. manjuap

    manjuap New Member

    Did you see Touro University (www.tourou.edu) ?
     
  17. bluenevus

    bluenevus New Member

    Oh yeah, that was a close second. Very fine institution (TUI), great challenging training plan (and I mean challenging). Good student-teacher interaction. Competetive cost (about $30k). The only drawback was that the curriculum was very focused on research (wow was that a lot of statistics and research). I'm looking for a more applied doctoral degree. I'm not in the research or teaching field (taught for UMUC...didn't like teaching, don't have the patience or precision of research). I prefer to expand my organizational leadership in a more clinical setting (applied) setting.

    Thanks

    Frank
     
  18. chris

    chris New Member

    Remember TUI gives a tuition break to active duty and retired military...

    Which should put the cost down around $21K (if my math is right). Not trying to convince you as you have stated very good reasons for selecting NSU. Just wanted to bring it up.
     

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