St. Josephs College of Maine

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by friendorfoe, Aug 19, 2005.

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  1. friendorfoe

    friendorfoe Active Member

    I've been looking actively for a school to get an MBA for a while, I have all but decided on NCU, then I read in another thread about St. Joseph's College, followed a couple of searched threads...I have to admit, I am very intrigued by an MBA that costs so little, is RA and from what I gather from DesElms posts, has a very supportive staff that cares a great deal about the success of it's students.

    ...and you work at your own pace?...

    Am I mislead here, is this school as good as it sounds? Has anyone from here had any experience with them? The MBA in Leadership makes perfect sense to me, after all, not all businesses are looking for a manager, accountant, economists, etc....but all of them are looking for a leader.

    Would you guys mind enlightening me on this school other than what I've read from their sight?
     
  2. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Saint Joseph's is a B&M school with a large, beautiful campus on Sebago Lake in Maine. They have a decent reputation, at least in New England.

    A co-worker of mine earned his DL B.S. in Criminal Justice there, and speaks very highly of the entire process, from enrollment to graduation.
     
  3. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    Unfortunately the search function is broken, but I recall that a St. Joseph's student posted here a couple of years ago and spoke highly of the school.

    http://www.sjcme.edu/gps/index.htm

    Degreeinfo often tends to emphasize 'usual suspects' because participants are familiar with them. But there are plenty of treasures left out there to people to discover.
     
  4. DesElms

    DesElms New Member

    And it has long been my opinion that SJCME is one of them.
     
  5. friendorfoe

    friendorfoe Active Member

    Thanks guys, it's like this school just popped out of nowhere and now I'm strongly considering them.

    Not crazy about the added 2 classes, I wonder what the 2 week residency is like?
     
  6. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

  7. friendorfoe

    friendorfoe Active Member

    Thanks Ted, I read that thread, in fact, DesElms kind comments about SJCME is what got me started to thinking about them.
     
  8. DesElms

    DesElms New Member

    If you want an MBA that isn't run-of-the-mill; that's really special -- and that's regionally-accredited, to boot -- then it's a good choice... I mean, assuming that leadership is the concentration you're after. Couple that with the fact the SJCME is a just plain nice place -- good people, ethical behavior, etc. -- and it's an almost irresistable combination.

    But here's the thing, and this is important: If you want an MBA that will allow you to seriously compete with bunches of other job candidates who all have MBAs -- some of them from some pretty impressive schools -- then you probably need to get an MBA that's not only regionally accredited, but is also AACSB accredited.

    AACSB accreditation is the coin-of-the-realm in the world of high-end MBAs from impressive, hoity-toity schools. And SJCME's MBA, you should know, isn't AACSB accredited. It's only regionally accredited. Most MBA programs are, in fact, not AACSB accredited (and are, in fact, only regionally- or nationally-accredited). That probably means the most people walking around out there with "MBA" after their names on resumes and business cards probably don't have an AACSB-accredited MBA. So don't misinterpret what I'm saying as that if it ain't AACSB-accredited, it ain't no good... 'cause that ain't what I'm sayin'.

    A regionally-accredited MBA is a good and respectable -- even enviable -- MBA. It need make no apologies to anyone. And it's what most MBAs floating around out there are.

    But an MBA that's both regionally-accredited and AACSB accredited is the kind of MBA that will let its holder seriously compete with the big dogs for jobs for which often only the best of the best need apply.

    Most of us mere mortals don't go after jobs like that... wouldn't take one even if someone gave it to us. Those are heart-attack jobs that pay well but require of you your soul. Many of us mere mortals would be happy with a regionally-accredited or maybe even only a nationally accredited MBA; and wouldn't spend even one second worrying about AACSB accreditation, as well. So, this whole AACSB issue may, in fact, be a non-issue for you. It's certainly a non-issue for me, but that's just me.

    I'm just making sure your eyes are wide open. The SJCME MBA would be a fine, enviable credential for you to have earned. It will concentrate on leadership issues that most other MBAs only gloss over or don't even address at all. You'll have emerged from it feeling like you really and truly did something special... and that's because you really and truly will have. And it will show, trust me, in your management style.

    But just know that it won't be AACSB accredited. Regionally-accredited, yes (and, typically, that's more than enough); but AACSB accredited, no. So if AACSB accreditation matters, don't sign up for the SJCME MBA.

    Just being anally retentive. Ignore me if you already knew any or all of the above.
     
  9. friendorfoe

    friendorfoe Active Member

    DesElms, you, Ted and a few others on this board have won my personal respect and gratitude. Reading your posts have taught me more in a week than the last 6 years I've spent in college regarding accreditation, school reputation, the purpose of a degree, what you can expect in return on your degree etc. So I appreciate the posts, all of them.

    As for St. Joe's, I will never hold an executive position that I did not work my way up to, and I have no problem with that....I will use experience, faith, education, hard work and a few other tools I have acquired so I really won't sweat the AACSB stuff.

    Personally I am one of those people that believe that a "Leader" is someone you want to follow for reasons that you may or may not be able to articulate. Someone who has a calling on them and have a natural magnetism that people look up to or seek out for advice or direction. When I saw St. Joe's I didn't really see a school that "teaches" you to be a leader per se but one that polishes up a leader to be an outstanding leader.

    I also believe that a leader is in desperate need in the workplace whether you are a Police Officer or a Wall Street Executive. With that in mind, St. Joe may be ahead of their time in teaching actual "leadership" and "ethics"....heck, just look at what MBA's can do at Enron.
     
  10. DesElms

    DesElms New Member

    Well said. On this, we are of one mind.
     
  11. PETEUSA1

    PETEUSA1 New Member

    I`m starting to look at MBA programs as I`m almost done with my BGS when I ran accross this post; this really looks like an excellent, affordable, program from a quality institution.

    Does anyone know of any similar MBA programs that are:

    RA accredited.
    Faith based institution.
    Online.
     
  12. DesElms

    DesElms New Member

    There are several faith-based institutions that offer the MBA... and either by traditional distance learning or online (or a combination thereof). And many of them are also regionally accredited. Some, like SJCME, require at least some kind of very brief, usually one-time, on-campus, residential intensive of some sort; and some, because of their ATS accreditation, require that only about two-thirds of the degree be online, with the rest in full-time, on-campus, residential study.

    This will tick off some folks -- maybe even you -- but I'll say it because it's gotta' be said: Many faith-based DL/online programs are offered by fairly conervative, fundamentalist, evangelical institutions. And by "conservative," I mean both theologically and politically. If you don't want your MBA from a bible-thumping college/university, then your choices narrow some.

    While SJCME is not a particularly liberal school, per se -- I mean, after all, it's Catholic -- it's not particularly conservative, either... and I mean either theologically or politically. That's just one of the many reasons why I like it.

    The ultra-conservative Liberty University and its MBA program, for example, will, I fear, have you as worried about the rapture as it will trickle down economics and other right-wing philosophies that conservative Republicans espouse so freely these days.

    So, unless you're a conservative yourself -- both theologically and politically -- and would, therefore, appreciate such places, be careful. When you specify "faith-based," unless you're very careful about how you select your program, you may be signing-up for more socio-political rhetoric of the conservative or ultra-conservative kind than you might have expected.

    I'm sure many here will chime-in with programs that meet your requirements. I'll go try and build a little list, too. But I just wanted to get this warning in early.

    Of course, if you're conservative or even ultra-conservative, then you're probably thinking "what a jerk" right about now. That's okay... that thought flits through many minds here as they read my posts.
     
  13. friendorfoe

    friendorfoe Active Member

    Well personally, I am a conservative, but I leave politics aside when looking at different schools...

    As for residency, St. Joes has a 2 week intensive residency that you have to do...mandatory.

    However the price is awesome and the curriculum very unique and in my opinion, ahead of it's time. I believe we will see with more scandals like what happened at Enron, there will be more of a demand for “Ethical Leaders” and not golden parachute wearing MBA’s from Harvard.

    My .02
     
  14. PETEUSA1

    PETEUSA1 New Member

    Just for the record I am a middle of the road, yellow dog Democrat.

    I`m not looking for a bible thumping, conservative, communist or even separatist institution.

    (I don`t live anywhere near Idaho).

    =-).
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 26, 2005
  15. PETEUSA1

    PETEUSA1 New Member

    St. Joe`s info package was in today`s mail and it looks just as good if not better than their online propaganda.The price is right, the courses relevant and varied, they take 6 cr hrs as transfer for Masters.

    This school is on my short list along with Marist.

    Unless Gregg pulls a "better" rabbit out of his hat.
     
  16. friendorfoe

    friendorfoe Active Member

    I haven't recieved mine yet. I do plan on being enrolled within the next 6 months however.
     
  17. beachhoppr

    beachhoppr New Member

    DesElms,
    I read your comments on AACSB but what is your opinion of ACBSP? I am enrolled in Grand Canyon's MBA program and it is ACBSP accredited.
     
  18. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Well, I'm not DesElms, but it is my impression that ACBSP has as its target market those schools whose MBA programs are more practical and applied rather than research-oriented.
     
  19. Rivers

    Rivers New Member

    I am not Des Elms but I really like the guidelines and philosophy behind ACBSP(even more than AACSB). I think they really want to advance Business education. I don't know why when schools get AACSB they don't continue ACBSP accreditation(e.g. Morehead State University),unless money is a factor . That being said I don't see a real chance for ACBSP in the long run. The AACSB rule changes have made it easier for a lot of schools who are/were ACBSP consider AACSB (e.g. Morehead State University (now AACSB accredited) and Cal State-D.H. (Currently ACBSP accredited and an AACSB candidate). I think unless ACBSP actively tries to merge or take over IACBE and their member institutions they both will be history in the long run. Also Grand Canyon University is ACBSP accredited for the time being, we will see if the profiteers of the school thinks it's advantageous to keep such accreditation in the future. My guess is they will try and save the money.
     
  20. mourningdove

    mourningdove New Member

    I am a graduae of St. Joseph's College with a BSPA (Education) in 1982. Have always had a great deal of respect for this school and have many fond memories of my summer residency. Now much expanded with a changeover to online courses (from what I understand).

     

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