Problems with AIU

Folks; from my alma mater:

http://www.auburn.edu/semesters/stdhrs.html


"Lecture-discussion

During the academic year, each credit hour corresponds to 50 minutes of lecture per week with an associated typical weekly out-of-class workload of 2-3 hours. For example, a 3 credit hour class would have a total of 150 minutes of lecture per week with 6-9 hours of out of class work (e.g., unsupervised computer-aided-instruction, homework in the form of problem sets, writing assignments, projects, etc.)."

 

What the Difference ?

I'm missing the point, what's the difference between AIU's degree completion program and the following RA schools:


" There are three institutions that will accept 100% of credits required for a degree, from proficiency exams. These are:


Charter Oak State College (COSC)
Excelsior College(formerly Regents College of the University of the State of New york)
Thomas Edison State College (TESC) "


I know everyone has seen the link: http://bain4weeks.com/index.html

S/

 

Vonnell,

from my perspective. The discussion involved taking classes. i.e. spending time in the educational process. The ability to pass competency based exams may be based upon many years of acquired expertise and learning, or cramming to just pass the exam. The exams in question have been reviewed and found to be adequate measures of learning in the areas they test. I have no direct knowlege of AIU so I can not speak to the rigor of the classes or the adequacy of the exams in measuring the learning outcomes. However I believe the original thread was on taking classes and whether the time frame presented was adequate for a 10 credit class. Please see my previous post for one standard of measurement.

My thoughts are that if I can pass the qualifying exam for any subject without a minute of studying I have met the objective of passing the course. The question would be whether I can put this learning to practical application or whether I am short changing myself by not spending adequate time actually trying to retain the information.

 

Re: What the Difference ?

It is possible you are. CLEP, DANTES and ECE tests are based on questions that students could answer after taking RA bricks and mortar classes. The tests are accepted at many (maybe most?) RA universities.

The Big Three offer three ways to earn credit: tests, portfolio and regular classes. Many universities limit altenative credit to 30 hours. The Big Three and a few others do not. The Big Three have had RA approval since the early 70's, and have had that approval reviewed and reapproved many times. Should they be RA and should they accept unlimited tests? That is hard to say and one I know little about.

As I pointed out earlier in this thread that has nothing to do with AIU's inadequate academic requirements. AIU's program is about new learning not certifying prior learning. The RA standards are pretty clear. AIU is not even close.

 

Re: Re: Re: Aiu is a degree completion program

Again, you are taking this too personal. Obviously there is something wrong with AIU if they give you a Bachelors degree in 13 months - that is only 10 classes!!! Does that mean that the Junior and Senior years are 5 classes each -

I think I was misunderstood before regarding comparisons of an AIU degree and a regular 4 year college degree. They do not compare and that is my point but yet an AIU graduate and a 4-yr college graduate can say that they have the same Bachelors degree.

I think it is great that there is an option for people to get a degree fast, but I do not think that it meets college level requirements.

I am sure you will say that AIU takes into account previous experience, so here is an example of unfairness:

Age 55 , experienced professional w/ an Associates
Option-1
AIU: take 10 classes and you are done.
Award: Bachelors degree

Option-2
4-yr school: take 20 classes and you are done.
Award: Bachelors degree

Am I missing something .... are AIU classes 2x better ... do they cover the material of 20 classes ???? No way.

How can AIU get away with this?

A person taking 20 classes at a 4-yr college should then be awarded a Masters Degree at the same time.

I do however love the 8-month AIU MBA program.

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Aiu is a degree completion program

hmm, valid points.... makes me think why am I or others going with Excelsior, COSC or TESC and do burning effort, take 20 or more classes to get a Bachelor degree. Why should one do so much effort and go with other schools just to get the same degree that AIU also offers in a whopping less time. Maybe I should go with AIU to get a quick one

 

AIU tuition & fees link

I think this link is going to shed some light into this discussion:

https://mycampus.aiu-online.com/enroll24/default2.asp?src=973
Click on #3 (Explore Financial Aid options)

According to that fee schedule a BIT degree can be completed in 26 months (from scratch, 13 months for the Associate’s and 13 months for the Bachelor’s) at a cost of $49,510.

The BIT is 180 credits, so seems like AIU is on the quarter hour system. A Master’s in IT with a concentration in Internet Security can be completed in as little as 10 months (and just over $27K).

I don’t know... but something does not add up.

 

Thank you !

DaveHayden,

Not really those were actually anwsers for online phd if you follow the entire thread you will see that !

not really took those directly off the website. I am proveing a point that you have not researched your questions and are just rambling on. Its hard to take serious any more!

There is a website that some guy who is an excelsior gradute and completed his entire degree in 30 days so if you apply your self like him you may complete your degree in a month! Maybe you should find out how squeezed all that hard effort into one month!

http://bain4weeks.com/index.html

Intially yes ,but there has been various point raised throughout this thread from credits to grammer.

I see were your going with this but you do realize that people are going to take offense to this ? I realize now that your main point is that AIU needs to add more classes and give less credits for the classes they already have. (If this is not your point please let me know !). I dont think they are attack the classes as being obsolete but they thing that there should be more of them thats all and I cant say that I dissagree! I dont think we need more classes to be effective in a work enviroment but I would like a few more classes for a better more well rounded view of what we learned. They are also trying to say that not just AIU but any school does not have a program that is worth 10 credit hours even there own schools and if there is one is should be so excessively hard that no one could complete it. I dissagree ! schools have objective to meet when they create a class and along as you meet those objective then you should recieve a degree If in one class you can figure out a way to meet the objects for 10 credit hours then you should be awarded those credit no matter how long it takes !

Nothing ! whenever ther is something new there are always people there to challenge it thats just the way it is ! in 10 years we wont be having this conversation because there are going to be so many similar programs from big named schools that no one dare say anything for fear of embarishment. All are solid programs only a few differences I see with AIU you do get hands
on with other 3 not so much from what i read mostly tests and such all have a degree of study that you must do to complete the degree. there is nothing different except one degree is earned by tests one degree is earned by projects.

 

Re: Thank you !

Codekiller, Then again you are missing the main point here, those who understand can. I was referring to number of courses as onlinephd highlighted, 10 vs 20 courses, not time. There is a difference. Those who do it in 30 days would have to take more than 10 courses for 2 years worth of college (20 courses) to get their Bachelor Degree.

 

Re: Re: Re: Aiu is a degree completion program

Me too.

Seriously, there are 6 semester hour courses which would be equivalent to 10 quarter hour courses. I have noticed a couple schools that offer them, I think Empire State College was one of them.

The tuition appears to be around $275 per quarter hour (equivalent to ~$412 per semester hour.) OUCH!!

AIU reminds me of a nationally accredited school I attended. A student could go from zero to graduate (b.s.) in around 30 months. Tuition was ~$45,000, and was also a flat fee for the degree. Although I am sure degrees such as these are good fits for the right kids, I doubt I would have been happy continuing.

I have nothing against AIU and wish the best for their students.

Tony

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Aiu is a degree completion program

The accrediting body is the following:


" American InterContinental University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award Associate's, Bachelor's and Master's degrees. For more information visit SACS website at: http://www.sacscoc.org/pdf/webmemlist.pdf

Major universities in the United States are accredited by six regional accrediting organizations. From Harvard to Stanford, the regions are set up geographically and colleges and universities are required to adhere to high quality standards to maintain accreditation. AIU Online is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and complies with their high accrediting standards. "


I know there are strong opinions on both sides of the AIU debate but the bottom line is that it is RA accredited school and I know that their degree will be accepted for other RA MS programs. On my base alone I've explored MS programs with Maryland, UoP, and Oklahoma U. Also I've applied online to other schools all RA's and was accepted without a hitch, with transcripts.

These conversations have come down to personal attacks and I'm sorry if I've partied in to this to deeply, but it is lively



s/

 

Sorry tries to edit last post but got several errors trying to do so. Please excuse the typos!

 

Etech,


I realize now that your main point is that AIU needs to add more classes and give less credits for the classes they already have. (If this is not your point please let me know !). I dont think they you attacking the classes as being obsolete but you think that there should be more of them thats all and I cant say that I dissagree! I dont think we need more classes to be effective in a work enviroment but I would like a few more classes for a better more well rounded view of what we learned. They are also trying to say that not just AIU but any school does not have a program that is worth 10 credit hours even there own schools and if there is one is should be so excessively hard that no one could complete it. I dissagree ! schools have objective to meet when they create a class and along as you meet those objective then you should recieve a degree If in one class you can figure out a way to meet the objects for 10 credit hours then you should be awarded those credit no matter how long it takes !

 

I agree! But from the first post that how this thread started some guy that thought him friend was stupid but was didnt want to say it to him instead decided to vent his fustrations here. And believe it was very funny listening to some ramble on with no proof what soever and ,but when he strted making comments that werent true is when I had to make my first post I didnt want people actually buying his whining as truth! I must admit I rather enjoyed this discussion it has been interesting t see how others feel about AIU !


To all of you that has stayed true to AIU An provided truthful post keep it up ! vonnell , oherra to name a few !

to all others

thank you for providing interesting points ,One thing I do ask is make sure they are truthful and can be proven that makes you sound more creditable and just let you know I researched AIU for a long time and I know if you are making something up or its just not right ! But everyone doesnt have to like AIU but to have a intelliegent debate we need facts or valid researched information or at least state when you are making a opinon
spend 15 minutes on it might help!

 

Dude - you really seem to have trouble understanding the issues and focusing on facts. Most of your posts do not relate to AIU at all - just like the post above. You keep on thanking people who are sticking to AIU and making you feel better - Grow up and admit that there are issues with AIU and work to change them.

You are paying the money, I am not. You are getting screwed, I am not.

Again, I believe that I have stated facts and none of my facts were untrue. If they are please enlighten us.

 

whatever!

 

I saw that Online mentioned UoP. Is there a problem with UoP? No good??

My wife attends class there once a week, and does online work as well...

I looked at the online and "in class" course work and it is pretty damn good. We attended Quincy College AND UMASS Boston before we moved here to Las Vegas and UNLV did not impress me whatsoever.

UoP worked with her the first day we called, and took care of the TA and GIBILL stuff right there and then, UNLV=Nothing...

UoP is RA and thats what she and I want/need for our educational desires.

Personally, "NON" RA schools have not come into their own as far as transferring credits, and for now I will stay with the RA schools for my educational needs.

Basically, what it comes down to is that you will get out of your college experience what you put into it.
At UMASS I had several in my class that CHEATED every chance they got and it happened at Quincy College as well. Is that a better education, not really.

Don't try to convince anyone your school of choice is worthy, it really makes no difference what anyone else thinks.. The only person that it really matters to should be you......

 

Re: Perception vs. reality -Spellin'

This was sent to me via email. Interesting!

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdgnieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer inwaht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas thought slpeling was ipmorantt!

 

Re: Re: Perception vs. reality -Spellin'

Wow! That was an interesting exercise. I read through that as quickly and as assuredly as if it had all been spelled correctly. It is true. The brain obviously processes in ways we don't even consciously realize. Quite an interesting phenomenon.

 

You Said:

I am not familiar w/ CLEP or other exams but if they are admited at schools that is fine. I care about knowledge and AIU does not provide that.

Some remaining questions for AIU students:
- what is the per credit cost? -
- are there 10-credit classes?
- are there less than 10-credit classes? -

How will your transcript look if you decide to apply for an MBA program somewhere outside of AIU and at a capus university like UPenn, UMass, Harvard, Colorado State anywhere?


I say:

You are an idiot. Do you realize how many times you contradict yourself?

1. Who cares cost per credit? Do you ask cost per mile when you buy a car? And just why don't the banks require that information!

2. 10-credit classes? Doubt it, but who cares as long as the learning requirments set by the accrediting agency are met? The RA, which has been already noted is evaluations by other schools!

3. How will your transcript look? This school is regionally accredited, which means ANY school will accept their credits.

It's time to realize that we are in the 21st century and have moved beyond slate and chalk. If you had the time to go to a brick-and-mortar school more power to you. I don't. I am 43 years old and but 20-25 hrs per week into my 5 week classes, and begin them one after another with no time off.

Perhaps you should look objectively into online learning and the statistics regarding them. I will post a study if you like that I am using for a research paper on the subject of HR's view of online degrees vs. brick-and-mortar. The study said that brick-and-mortar had better retention rates in the classes, but online students retained more knowledge and had higher CPT scores in reading and writing. There are several ways to interpret that including online learners are typically older and have been in the workplace, therefore are better prepared for the environment and more focused on learning not just getting credits.

The classes I've been taking in teamwork collaboration, conflict and resolution, and research skills are classes that are helping me everyday at work. And beyond academia, my employer values what I'm learning enough to pay the high cost of UoP.