Northcentral University concerns

I don't know if this has been posted before (and I apologize if so). Here's a website of a student who completed NCU's "Information Research Strategies" with an A in less than a month, but then dropped out:

• ... Northcentral University was the first on-line institution to offer several PhD programs without having to physically attend any residencies! I have been accepted into Northcentral University to pursue a PhD in Organization Psychology. Having this degree would have enabled me to become an on-line consultant for physically disabled young adults. Unlike Walden University, Northcentral University did not have regular semesters and classes. Students worked at their own time schedules and with professors on a one-to-one basis. For instance, I completed Information Research Strategies (first class)in less than a month and earned an A! After enrolling in my second class, I dropped out because the professor did not respond to any of my e-mail messages. When he finally responded, he intended to fail me due to not liking my writing. Since I played the Good Ole Boys Game for eleven years, I no longer had the strength to continue advocating for my student rights. After realizing most graduate students were gainfully employed, I felt even more disgusted, outraged, and so on. ...

http://home.att.net/~ysinger/egg.htm

 

Re: This is not Ad Hominem

I can understand the motivation for LS6010.

NCU attracts a lot of reentry students, many of whom haven't been inside an academic library in years (perhaps decades). Many students live in remote areas where physical access to an academic research library is difficult. A considerable number of these students don't have a clue what sort of electronic resources are available online. Now remember that any doctoral program is going to be research and library-intensive.

I applaud NCU for recognizing the problem and for trying to give their students an orientation to library resources specifically tailored for DL graduate students. (I do question whether it should count for three graduate units, though.)

I think that's a little over-the-top if it's based simply on having taken one orientation course for DL library research and a statistics class that it isn't clear was ever completed.

In one of the previous NCU flame-threads, I posted some material from NCU explaining how their courses are organized. Individual instructors have considerable leeway in designing their course sections as they see fit. They are responsible for assignments and examinations. Given the fact that EKflag and Ian Anderson say that they find LS6010 valuable, either somebody doesn't know what they are talking about, or else the quality of the class sections varies quite a bit.

I'd speculate that perhaps a few NCU instructors aren't taking their duties seriously enough (it's only DL) and perhaps are just treating this part-time gig as a little quick cash.

I also posted that NCU asks its students to fill out course evaluations that are returned to the administration, presumably as part of their internal quality assurance measures. So I wonder if our critics ever made any effort to inform NCU that they weren't satisfied with their course section.

If NCU is having some trouble maintaining a uniform educational product, that needs to be brought to the administration's attention in an effective and contructive way.

Bottom line: I think there may be some kind of a problem at NCU, but I'm not sure exactly what it is. But I'm reasonably sure that the evidence doesn't yet justify the wholesale condemnation that Me Again posted.

 

BillDayson,

I agree that I may have been a little bit harsh. And maybe not. It remains to be seen how NCU will fare against father time.

I wish that you could have eavesdropped on the doctoral defense that I listened to -- because your post-opinion would have been most interesting and informative.

 

Current Ph.D learner

I concur with the current NCU students. LS6010 is far from easy. As an attorney, I do have lots of experience with research, but I had no idea all the different options for research on the internet. I have spend numerous hours on the class, and still have half the assignments to do.

Most classes of any DL program that do not have a set schedule for assignments could be finished by a student in record time if they have the time and drive to do it. However, most of us have jobs and families, and do our work as we can.

I take real offense from someone saying if you want an easy degree, etc. go here I saw several posts on how wonderful Touro was, and then when their accreditation probation was found to be related to their DL Ph.D program, it was suddenly ripped to shreds by many.

Good, open debate fine-it's America! But slamming this school or that with bold wording, and vindictive sounding phrases, hurts all RA DL schools. Touro is a perfect example where RA is tough, and saying certain regions are easier, etc. is in my opinion-baloney. RA is tough US through and through, and supporting DL in general with meaningful discussions is in everyone's interest.

me again-I appreciate your comments later, where you do acknowledge and show respect for some of the current NCU students. I am sorry that you are having a financial difficulty right now, and hopefully there will still be several Ph.D RA DL programs around in the 4 years you plan to re-enter. It has been a very tough struggle for ALL RA DL doctorate programs to get the respect and accreditation they received, and it is with us all working together that we win.

Sorry, sounds like a lecture. I truly mean well for all RA DL schools.

rnattorney