Concordia to close

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Kizmet, Feb 10, 2020.

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  1. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

  2. LearningAddict

    LearningAddict Well-Known Member

    Wow.

    Regionally accredited, non-profit with 115 years of history.
     
  3. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

  4. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

    Wow, that's crazy. I didn't see that coming. I explored CU Portland and CU Chicago when I was looking at doctoral programs. I know CU Portland produced quite a few Ed.Ds.
     
  5. copper

    copper Active Member

    It's interesting seeing college attendance explode during recessions and crumble during a boom in the economy.
     
  6. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

    Good question. Recently I was teaching a lesson in my personal finance course, which relates closely to your observation.

    "In Japan, individuals save a lot of money. Since 1989, Japanese individuals and households have been able to save an average of 11.2 percent of disposable income. This great savings rate is the result of many factors, including the economy’s good performance, the economic and financial well-being of the Japanese population, and the good interest rates available on time deposits (CDs). In contrast, U.S. individual and household savings ranged between 4 and 5 percent in this same time period. That trend has somewhat reversed in the United States, with people saving more following the Great Recession (2007–2009). But savings rates still remain far below those of Japan" (Ryan & Ryan, 2016).

    Think Critically
    Why do you suppose people in the United States save more following an economic downturn? Why do you suppose people in Japan save more during an economic boom?

    Ryan, J. S., & Ryan, C. (2016). Managing your personal finances. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
     
  7. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    Not really surprising, though. When people are un or under employed, it's been the default for years that you go back to school and add a degree. Traditionally, this also could help fill in gaps.

    Why that three year gap in employment? I wasn't fired! I just decided to go to law school/business school/whatever.

    Of course, traditionally these things did not come with six figure price tags. If you have literally nothing else to do, then worrying about paying for education later sounds like a good option. And hey, it's a tough market, but surely they couldn't say no to a person with multiple Masters degrees or a doctorate, amirite?

    So yeah, we're entering a bust for higher ed. But don't worry, this current state of things won't keep up forever. It never does.
     
    SteveFoerster likes this.
  8. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

    Quite a few students will be impacted. I'm already seeing frustration in some of the FB groups in which I am a member. Some students were in the middle of their dissertations. Hopefully Liberty will extent some help as they did when Argosy abruptly closed.

    It helps to have $1.3 billion in endowment :)
     
  9. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

    George Fox extends help to CU-Portland students.

    https://www.georgefox.edu/concordia/index.html

    1. Application fees waived for Concordia students
    2. 100 percent of Concordia credits accepted
    3. Expedited application process for Concordia transfers
    4. $5,000 additional automatic grant, renewable annually, on top of other aid available to Concordia transfer students
     
    JoshD likes this.
  10. chrisjm18

    chrisjm18 Well-Known Member

  11. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    I know for-profits take a lot of flak around here but I'd say one can do a lot worse than ACE. Still, I'd say you're taking a resume hit by filling in a gap where you were planning to write "Concordia" and putting "American College of Education" instead. I'd file it under "better than no degree, I guess."
     
  12. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    I'd agree with that. I think that for the most part, once you are out of school and working your university is less important than your job performance. Pile up some certs, maybe a grad degree and no one even thinks about which school you did you undergrad work at. I know that graduating from certain schools opens certain doors, etc. but I don't know that trading Concordia for ACE or George Fox is going to hurt anyone terribly.

    On the other hand, the story wouldn't be complete without a lawsuit

    https://www.kgw.com/video/news/local/student-suing-concordia-university-over-closing/283-c0ac722b-ee89-40f8-96a8-07d7ab729f57
     
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2020
  13. Neuhaus

    Neuhaus Well-Known Member

    It depends on so many factors.

    George Fox is a perfectly fine school. It is well known within its circle. Those outside of it see it as just an ordinary school.

    ACE? You have the splashy website and, in some situations, it might snap back at you I suppose. But if you're teaching in a school and working on a doctorate so you can get a pay raise, it won't matter.

    Having a degree is better than having no degree when it comes to job searches. I suppose my comment is more about the vanity of it all if you're into taking pride in your school.
     

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