Opinion: US Students should stick with RA programs

This is the 100th post Barry and you are still intact. Good solid responses, diverse opinions, but this is the way it should be.

Russell,
Three RA's and still on the highway.

 

On a slightly related note: Received my Ph.D. application yesterday, filled it out, and the thing goes back out this afternoon via International Priority Mail. More to report when there's more to report, but I definitely look forward to getting to work on the formal thesis proposal, doing a literature review, etc.


Cheers,

------------------
Tom Head
www.tomhead.net

co-author, Bears' Guide to the Best Education Degrees by Distance Learning (Ten Speed Press)
co-author, Get Your IT Degree and Get Ahead (Osborne/McGraw-Hill)

 

Hey Tom, maybe I missed it, but where are you doing your PhD?

 

At an Australian school--I don't want to reveal the name until I'm accepted or rejected, but it's definitely a government-funded, AQF-approved Australian school.


Cheers,

------------------
Tom Head
www.tomhead.net

co-author, Bears' Guide to the Best Education Degrees by Distance Learning (Ten Speed Press)
co-author, Get Your IT Degree and Get Ahead (Osborne/McGraw-Hill)

 

Tom,

Is the school also recognized by Norfolk Island? If so, this would bring the total number of NI recognized institutions to TWO.

Russell

 

. . . making NI the Athens of Australia

 

Then good luck and hope to hear some good news from you.

 

I agree with Bill Dayson.

The Internet will soon radically change RA procedures. Bill Dayson cites the case of American Military University that is DETC accredited. This superb educational program, started in 1992, offers an extraordinary range of courses in core subject areas related to its mission. But, because it operates from within SACS, the most backward educational "cartel" on the planet, it is unlikely that AMU will become RA. Then, there is a small institute in DC called Institute of World Politics that currently "passes" its credits through Boston University. Stuck in Middle States, and a very small entity, the likelihood of RA for this Institute isn't great. What is RA? A way by which to process Title IV tuition assistance, and to accept transfer credits from othr RAs. That's it? You bet, and not much more.

So, cut out the RA crap, go to Google, and click Distance Education. Get an education, not a silly RA degree!

 

Another anonomous poster offering no information on his/her background, data backing this opinion, etc. No info on credentials or experience. No real name.

Could you inform us a little about your reasoning for drawing this conclusion?

- How soon will the internet change RA procedures? Tomorrow? Next month? 20 years from now?
- How will RA procedures be changed?
- How do RA schools fail to educate?

Why should prospective students follow your advice to avoid a RA degree - at the risk of their future and at the expense of their time and money?

Barry Foster
(who thought this thread was dead ...)

 

This is a very dangerous and idiotic statement. Anyone who states that an RA degree is a silly degree is inviting others to seek out degrees of limited value. cmpintl is trying to lump a good DETC school into a larger argument against RA which is not even logical.

John

 

Nah, Russell...this doesn't arise from your education...but your DENOMINATIONAL affiliation. Sorry, couldn't resist.

Formerly licensed in the Church of God (Cleveland, TN),
Steven King

 

While I am flattered that you liked my post, I'm afraid that you are totally misrepresenting what I said.

I have the greatest respect for regional accreditation. It is the accepted institutional QA standard here in the United States. Choosing a school that is not regionally accredited involves serious risks and should not be undertaken lightly.

I do think that there are many good educational options that are not regionally accredited. But they all have some other recognized accreditation, its international equivalent, or have found some other way to demonstrate their credibility. And many of these non-RA alternatives are appropriate only for certain kinds of students.

I also think that it is totally asinine to suggest that regional accreditation is silly, that it exists only to distribute title IV funds, or that prospective students should just "go to Google".