Hello I've just started my MBA program at Frederick Taylor University which is approved and licensed by the State of California. It is very challenging and demanding. I understand State of California approval is stringent. Could you please let me know why you do not recommend this school yet do recommend California Coast? They both meet the same approval. I have found FTU to be nothing short of excellent. I did almost go with CCU but found those at FTU to more professional and very easy to work with. Their books are included in tuition and overall is cheaper than CCU, though not by much. Their offices are a short distance from where I live and work. I've researched FTU ad-nausium and the State of California gives them excellent marks. It is every bit as challenging as my traditional degree, even more so. Thank you for your input and warmest regards Jeff Conners
Did your ad nauseum research discover the fact that FTU was told by California that they could not offer certain degrees, resulting in their establishing a "campus" at a mail drop in Hawaii, pretending to be a Hawaii school, yet still run from California. That produced a lawsuit against them for alleged illegal operation by the State of Hawaii. Here is how it was reported in this forum last year: ------------------------ 'State of Hawaii Sues Frederick Taylor International The State of Hawaii, by its Office of Consumer Protection, filed suit today against Frederick Taylor International University (a dissolved Hawaii corporation) and its principal Mansour S. Saki(a CA resident). The suit alleges that the defendants violated various provisions in Hawaii's Unaccredited Degree Granting Institutions Law (Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 446E)and seeks injunctive relief, restitution, civil penalties and other equitable relief. Jeffrey E. Brunton Staff Attorney Office of Consumer Protection, State of Hawaii ------------------------------------------ Perhaps you will be one of the few for whom an unaccredited degree meets all needs, both present and (the tough one) future. And perhaps FTU will be all you ever need. But while California Coast is not exactly the Harvard of the West, at least, to my knowledge, they've never indulged in this kind of chicanery, nor been sued by any state agency.
Full disclosure. Mansour Saki, proprietor of both Frederick Taylor universities, has twice bought me lunch, most recently 3 or 4 years ago. I find him to be a bright, personable gentleman, and his California-approved school did seem to be doing a decent job. But I don't know why California did not permit him to offer certain degrees, and I have real problems with his Hawaii 'end run' effort.
There are very few on this forum who would recommend CalCoast. And there is one respected forum contributor who visited the school in "beautiful" Santa Ana, and who has frequently written that it's a degree mill (according to his 62 criteria). On the other hand, I agree that I have never seen anybody recommend Frederick Taylor.
I've stated several times that I believe California Coast is one of the *better* unaccredited options available. I certainly wouldn't recommend them to the vast majority of people seeking a DL degree. Bruce
Just curious John, why do none of your books speak ill of California Coast University? In fact, some of the books I have of yours appear to give minor nod to the school. Confused here with your true feelings about this school.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Here is a message that I posted in this board back in February 2001. Although one might question CCU's academic record, no body an question their professionalism. CFr posted 02-28-2001 01:07 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bravo California Coast University !!!!!!! Recently, due to other commitments, I withdrew from a CCU degree program, & I must admit that I am extremely impressed with CCU’s overall professionalism. Within 4 weeks after I mailed out my notice of withdrawal I received the refund check as per official California Education Code Refund Policy – no questions asked !! Well done CCU & well done BPPVE. Your professionalism & ethical actions are beyond reproach. CFr
About a year ago, I looked into FTU's MBA program. On several occasions I spoke to Dr. Mansour Saki (the Chief Academic Officer) and asked him a series of questions concering his university. Like Dr. Bear, I also found him to be bright & personable. He was eager to provide info and answer questions. I did not undertake study at FTU for the following reasons: 1) I found it very odd that FTU was licensed through CA & FTIU through Hawaii. FTU didn't offer PHDs but FTIU did. I knew that it was much easier to obtain licensing through Hawaii. 2) The receptionist and the VP/Treasurer were not friendly at all. I felt as though they could care less if I enrolled or not. They didn't seem to want to help or answer questions. Turned me right off. 3) The Bureau also advised me that they had an existing complaint open concerning FTU but could tell me what the nature of the complaint was. 4) I haven't come across anyone that has recommended FTU. 5) Now...the State of Hawaii has intiated legal action against FTIU. Certainly makes one wonder....
KidDL asks, Just curious John, why do none of your books speak ill of California Coast University? In fact, some of the books I have of yours appear to give minor nod to the school. Confused here with your true feelings about this school. Well yes, I guess, a "minor nod," in that if one has concluded that a California-approved degree will meet his/her current and predicted future needs, this one appears to be one of the better ones. In this forum, or perhaps it was earlier in AED, I reported how CCU founder/owner Thomas Neal, showing me around, explained why some of the dissertations were on view but in locked glass cabinets. "You know, John," he told me (I paraphrase), "We really were just like a diploma mill in our early years, and I wouldn't want people to pick one of those early theses up and look at them -- but alumni come by and want to see them on display." After I posted this, I got (and posted) a very angry reply from Thomas Neal Jr., totally denying this incident, and accusing me of fabricating it. I stand by what I wrote -- and, amusingly, I may be the only person left on the planet who still has the very first catalog they ever put out, in 1972 I think, with the Cherokee invocation, and listing faculty with degrees from Atlanta Southern University (whose proprietor, Ernest Sinclair, later went to prison for his California Pacifica University), and one from the University of London (which could find no record of him). This, of course, was back when it was called California Western University. To the best of my knowledge, they have operated legally and ethically for quite a few years now.
"dramahead" has not posted here for 19 months. I think there is a fairly common pattern of people coming here, asking questions, getting responses, and moving on. I have Emailed Mr. Conners (dramahead) to ask him how things have gone, but I am not holding my breath awaiting an answer. John Bear
CCU directory In the past I have done a Google search on California Coast University and pulled up the directory. You still can and the sight is still there but the URL says it's not avaliable. My quess; there is a change of staff and programs due to the DETC accreditating process, and the directory page is simply being changed. Herb
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>> Jeff, I will be very interested to hear how your studies are going with FTU. Please advise. Regards CFr
Hmm, so does Dennis Ruhl's future alma mater, California Coast University, have the "unified list of dissertations" that Bill Huffman claims all legitimate universities must have? Here are the original message by John Bear, and the denial by Thomas Neal, Jr (son of the founder): http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=john-1312992158550001%40toolshed43.ppp.lmi.net http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=john-1412991745090001%40fence3.ppp.lmi.net
In my often less than humble opinion, CCU was the best of the rest. It is a popular unaccredited program that requires real work and shares few attributes with degree mills. Since enrolling, my opinion has not changed. They are very straightforward, devoid of tricks and deceit. Although my desire was to get an accredited MBA from another school and the DBA from CCU, the application for DETC accreditation forced me to work on both from CCU. Whether the school meets Bill Huffman's personal criteria is interesting but not personally relevant. CCU's list of staff probably has more good degrees than most accredited universities. CCU may have a past as have many other schools, pointed out by Dr. Bear, but CCU has a promising present and I am hopeful about the future. .
Dennis Ruhl wrote: > CCU's list of staff probably has more good degrees than most > accredited universities. Hi, Dennis, Is CCU's list of staff (faculty?) and their degrees on the Web? If so, what's the URL? Have you had any personal correspondence with CCU's president, Thomas Neal, Jr? Is the first sentence of his message addressed to Dr Bear ("You are so full of crap") typical of his tone? -- Mark I.
Mark No contact with Mr. Neal. Staff does not seem to be listed on the website but instead in other literature I received. All listed had doctorates from very good schools, with the exception of a single EdD from CCU. I cannot swear that these staff do the bulk of the work or that there aren't other unlisted staff.
Actually, that would be Dr. Dr. Neal, as he has, not one, but two doctorates from... California Coast University!
According to Dr Bear, Thomas Neal, Sr, (the founder) had 2 Ph.D.s from CCU: http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=john-1312992158550001%40toolshed43.ppp.lmi.net Are you sure that the same is true of Thomas Neal, Jr (the current president)?
No, I am not sure, but it seems to be what four different employees at CCU with whom I recently discussed the matter seem to believe. None of them wanted to actually confirm this, but instead crouched their statements with phraseology similar to, “I can’t actually confirm that, but if I had to guess, yes, his degrees are from CCU.” I should also point out that, more than once, I was given the third degree just for inquiring.