Clarification on Union's Troubles

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by Rich Douglas, Feb 23, 2004.

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  1. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    There is a great deal of discussion about Union at CollegeHints. As usual, the principals have gotten it wrong. I just want to clarify a few small things, things most readers here might know. (I'm banned from posting there, and we know they read this board an awful lot. Also, some members of this board might be confused about Union's situation.)

    Union is not on probation with its regional accreditor. It was recently re-accredited for the maximum 10-year term

    Union is not on "probation" by the Ohio Board of Regents. The OBR did grant Union a 2-year provisional approval while Union addressed issues the OBR had regarding Union's Ph.D. program. (Whether or not those issues are legitimate is a matter of debate; the OBR is dominated by people from The Ohio State University, never a friend of Union's. But Steve and I both feel Union could be better at some things.)

    Union didn't lose its ability to issue financial aid. The USDoE held back financial aid while Union implemented satisfactory progress reporting procedures, which they've done.

    The USDoE's actions weren't due to academic quality. They were concerned about monitoring and documenting learners' progress to ensure monies weren't being spent on learners not progressing through their programs.

    Finally, where's my dissertation? Neil "Dr. Duck" Hayes illegally downloaded from UMI what he (still!) thinks was my dissertation. (This from a post he left on CollegeHints. I can hardly believe he admitted to stealing it--he certainly didn't pay for it.) It wasn't. No one realized that Union sent UMI my program summary, which also has a research project documented. (That tale has already been related on this board.) But that research project wasn't my dissertation, as anyone who's read my comments about the dissertation's results could easily tell. So where is it? I don't know. UMI hasn't received the correct document and Union has said they will send it. (They might be a little busy with other things right now.) Ironically, I got a solicitation from UMI offering an "author's discount" if I want to order copies for myself! :D Anyway, a couple of people (who also post here) are making a big conspiracy of it all, talking about how I've gone to great lengths to hide it. Of course, I have no control over the process. It is to laugh....

    (P.S.: Hayes even has the title wrong. He posted what he though was the title, but it was actually the title of my degree. The dissertation's title is: The Accreditation of Degree-granting Institutions and its Role in the Utility of College Degrees in the Workplace. I can hear you falling asleep already! ;) )
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 23, 2004
  2. oxpecker

    oxpecker New Member

    But it was reasonable for people to infer that USDoE's actions were based on academic quality after Friday's article: Union Ph.D.s under scrutiny. Quote: "The U.S. Department of Education has refused to pay at least $8 million in financial aid to Union Institute and University over concerns about the academic rigor of its doctoral program."

    One day the infamous dissertation will see the light of day. It's sure to receive a great deal of attention!
     
  3. Dennis Ruhl

    Dennis Ruhl member

    Sounds like someone left the inmates in charge. Thanks for the "clarification."
     
  4. fnhayes

    fnhayes New Member

    Does Rich really expect us to believe he does not have a copy of his own dissertation? and that he is not allowed to make it available? and that he really doesn't know where it is? and that Union is not in serious trouble?
    On another matter, I recently received an email from UMI in response to my asking them about dissertations from unaccredited schools - they are contemplating the matter and asked me to check with them in the future.
    Dr Anatidae (Knightsbridge)
     
  5. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    I didn't say any of those things.

    The very fake "Dr." Hayes should try stealing it again. Perhaps this time he'll actually get it. :cool:
     
  6. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    It has. I've provided copies to two posters on this board. It is available from UIU via interlibrary loan. It's just not available from UMI yet.
     
  7. fnhayes

    fnhayes New Member

    Rich,
    Please describe for me how I stole your non-dissertation from a public forum. Your emotive words are really quite meaningless.
    Dr Anatidae (Knightsbridge)
     
  8. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    You already did.
     
  9. DaveHayden

    DaveHayden New Member

    You downloaded it from a site in violation of the copywrite that was agreed to. You did, in effect, steal it. What is funny is that you stole the wrong document.
     
  10. fnhayes

    fnhayes New Member

    The use of the word 'fake' is obnoxious in the extreme, so to is the drivel from Dave Hayden.
    The facts are:
    1 A post appeared on AED giving details of how to down load
    UMI information on 'the' dissertation. I'm lead to believe that
    the response was tremendous - 100's of copies downloaded
    2 Everyone, apart from the author, believed that this was 'the'
    dissertation
    3 Within the first day access to 'the' dissertation was denied
    4 No copyright was claimed and none existed
    5 'The' dissertation has now mysteriously disappeared
    6 Union Institute appears to have major finanicial problems, PhD
    problems and lack of student problems
    7 Unlike many on this site I have always been 'up-front' and
    totally open with my posts
    8 I have been continually subjected to mindless, unhealthy,
    provocative and totally obnoxious comments from 'the gang of
    six'
    9 This 'gang' will eventually cause the extinction of DegreeInfo
    Dr Anatidae (Knightsbridge)
     
  11. Bill Grover

    Bill Grover New Member

    ===

    I usually don't step out of my narrow area, but I don't think so.
     
  12. ashton

    ashton New Member

    Copyright exists unless the author dedicates the
    work to the public domain in writing. Is the written
    dedication to the public domain available on line?
     
  13. fnhayes

    fnhayes New Member

    My copy of 'the' dissertation says, "Copyright 2003 by Douglas, Richard Coleman". RC really needs to take the copyright question up with ProQuest, not with the 100's of people who downloaded it. But then RC has already declared that he does not now own the copyright.
    To save his critics continuing to have a 'field day' all RC has to do is arrange for the re-release of the dissertation to all interested DL enthusiasts.
    Dr Anatidae (Knightsbridge)
     
  14. Steve Levicoff

    Steve Levicoff Well-Known Member

    I love it when amateurs pass opinions on things about which they obviously know nothing.*

    Copyright is established when application for it is accepted by the United States Library of Congress. (I applied for copyright on my dissertation even before it was sent to UMI. The UMI process only includes copyright if the author requests it.)

    So there.
    _____________________

    What? You thought I could correct such an error without displaying a touch of at-tee-tude? :D
     
  15. MarkIsrael@aol.com

    [email protected] New Member

     
  16. ashton

    ashton New Member

    The frequently asked questions document available on the Library of Congress states otherwise:

    (from http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html)

    The FAQ goes on to say that one must register a copyright before starting an infringement suit, in additon to other advantages.
     
  17. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Uh, sure. :rolleyes: I'm sure Degreeinfo will be around at least as long as it takes you to earn a real doctorate.
     
  18. fnhayes

    fnhayes New Member

    Yet another extreme piece of nonsense from the infamous RC!
    Surely it is time for RC to be banned from here? Afterall he's been banned everywhere else!
    Both Suhar and French have denied any knowledge of how the RC 'dissertation' happened to appear on AED and RC's continual slur on me personally displays an incredibly weak and seriously troubled mentality.
    It certainly seems that the RC 'dissertation' will never see the light of day, and that RC is obviously ashamed of his nine month PhD? (Even the TCU PhD took longer!)
    Dr Anatidae (Knightsbridge)
     
  19. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member


    Is "Dr Anatidae (Knightsbridge)" a degree of some kind?
     
  20. Jeff Hampton

    Jeff Hampton New Member

    Yes, in much the same way that "Weird Al" Yankovic is a singer of some kind.
     

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